28.04.2010
Inter, Bayern to meet in Champions League final
Inter Milan reached the Champions League final on Wednesday, beating Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate in their semi-final despite losing the second leg 1-0.
Inter, who won the first game 3-1 last week, will play Bayern Munich in the final on May 22 in Madrid.
Despite Gerard Pique's 84th-minute goal, defending champions Barcelona were unable to find the crucial second goal as 10-man Inter held on.
The tension of the disappointing match boiled over in the 28th minute when Inter's Brazilian star Thiago Motta was red-carded for shoving Sergio Busquets in the face.
However, Inter were outraged by Busquet's theatrical reaction when the Barcelona man collapsed to the ground, holding his head in his hands.
Barcelona pressed and Lionel Messi was denied by a fine diving save from Julio Cesar, the best chance of the first half.
Pique was pushed forward as Barcelona became even more desperate and his goal gave the Spanish giants hope.
They thought they had won when Bojan found the net in stoppage-time but the effort was ruled for a handball against Yaya Toure.
Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola made two changes to his side from the first-leg, with Toure and Gabriel Milito replacing Maxwell and suspended captain Carles Puyol.
Gabriel's selection on the opposing side to Diego Milito meant brothers were playing in the same Champions League match for the first time.
Inter manager Jose Mourinho kept faith with the team which won the first leg 3-1 last week.
Source: © 2010 AFP - Josep Lago
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