MX23RW : Friday, November 29 09:06:44| >> :60:54:54:
[monks data]
Attendance: 86,141
Barcelona logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Oct 2, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
Inter logo

2-1

Suarez (58', 84')
FT(HT: 0-1)

Ernesto Valverde hails Barcelona's 'decisiveness' in final third

Ernesto Valverde hails Barcelona's 'decisiveness' in final third
© Reuters
The Serie A leaders took the lead at the Nou Camp but Barca rallied.

Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde felt his side's improvement in the final third was the reason behind their comeback win over Inter Milan in the Champions League.

The hosts were up against it at the Nou Camp after Lautaro Martinez struck in the second minute for the Serie A leaders.

But Barca improved, with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez taking centre stage in the second half.

Suarez netted twice, the second coming in the 84th minute following a fine run from Messi, to seal a 2-1 win which put the Spanish champions level with Borussia Dortmund in Group F, three points above Slavia Prague and Inter.

Luis Suarez scored twice for Barcelona
Luis Suarez scored twice for Barcelona (Emilio Morenatti/AP)

Valverde told Marca: "We needed to transform the match going forward. We controlled the play with (Sergio) Busquets, Arthur (Melo), (Frenkie) De Jong, but we didn't have any space to play.

"We needed to be more of a threat in their area and be more decisive in the final third. They kept us far away from their goal and we were able to come back."

Barcelona were fortunate to only be one goal down at half-time after Inter missed several chances to add to Martinez's fine finish.

Antonio Candreva had a goal disallowed for offside, Nicolo Barella saw a shot blocked and Martinez was denied by a fine save from Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.

"(Lautaro's goal) really put the game in their favour and strengthened their situation a lot," Valverde said.

"They're a powerful team, they're first in the Italian league (after) winning all their matches. They made our lives difficult, but we were better in the second half."

The defeat for Inter, who return to league action against champions Juventus on Sunday, was their first this season under Antonio Conte.

Midfielder Barella told Sky Sport: "We came here and demonstrated that we're capable of matching them and winning: this is what Conte asked of us.

"We also showed this after the equaliser, but they found the winning goal. It's disappointing, but now we go forward and start thinking about the next game."

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League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool550015
2Inter Milan541013
3Barcelona540112
4Dortmund540112
5Atalanta532011
6Arsenal531110
7Sporting Lisbon531110
8B. Leverkusen531110
9Brest531110
10Aston Villa531110
11Monaco531110
12Lille531110
13Bayern53029
14Benfica53029
15AC Milan53029
16Atletico53029
17Juventus52218
18Man City52218
19PSV52218
20Celtic52218
21Brugge52127
22Feyenoord52127
23Dinamo Zagreb52127
24Real Madrid52036
25Stuttgart51134
26Sparta Prague51134
27PSG51134
28Shakhtar51134
29Sturm Graz51043
30Girona51043
31Red Star51043
32Salzburg51043
33Bologna50141
34RB Leipzig50050
35Slovan Bratislava50050
36Young Boys50050


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