Star-studded sides 

©TM/IMAGO

In modern football, there haven’t been many top-level rivalries that have eclipsed Pep Guardiola vs José Mourinho. Two of the very best managers of their generations, the pair adopt extremely different styles of play, and there has often appeared to be genuine animosity between them. Back in 2010, Guardiola’s Barcelona were one of the most feared teams in the history of the game. During his four-year tenure at the Camp Nou, the club won 14 trophies, including two Champions League in 2009 and 2011. But in 2010, Guardiola’s team, in their pomp, were stopped by Mourinho’s rugged Inter Milan side in the semi-finals. The Italian giants would go on to to win the competition that season.

Once again this week Barcelona will face Inter Milan in a Champions League semi-final. Hansi Flick’s Barca will host Simone Inzaghi’s Inter in the first-leg in Catalonia this Wednesday evening in what looks to be an enthralling tie. So 15 years on from the infamous clash in 2010, let’s take a look back at the two starting line ups when the clubs met at the Camp Nou that evening. Both XIs are bursting at the seems with legends of the game.

Barcelona & Inter Milan XIs when they met in 2010 UCL semi-final

On April 28, 2010, Barcelona faced Inter in the Champions League semi-final second leg, needing to overturn a 3-1 lead the Serie A side had gained in the first leg at the San Siro. Despite Thiago Motta being sent off in just the 28th minute, Barca only managed to score once through Gerard Piqué late-on, and subsequently were eliminated. It was a defensive masterclass from Mourinho’s team. In between the sticks for the La Liga side that day was legendary keeper Victor Valdés (Market value: €18 million). At centre half it was Piqué (€25m), and make-shift centre back Yaya Touré (€18m). Argentine Gabriel Milito (€14m) lined up at left-back, with Brazilian Dani Alves (€30m) at right-back.

Legendary silky midfielder Andrés Iniesta missed the game through injury, but it was still some trio in the middle of the park for the Catalonian side. Sergio Busquets (€20m) held fort, with club icon Xavi (€65m), and Seydou Keita (€16m) just ahead of him. On the left-wing was Pedro (€14m), with arguably the greatest player of all-time Lionel Messi (€80m) starting on the right-wing for Barcelona. Leading the line for Guardiola’s side was Zlatan Ibrahimović (€46m), who had signed from Inter Milan the previous summer for €69.5m. The entire Barca XI boasted a market value of €346m, which was very high for the time.

For Inter, it was Brazilian cult hero Julio César (€25m), with his compatriot Lúcio (€16m) and Argentina Walter Samuel (€15m) at centre-half. In fact, Inter’s entire back five were South American. Club captain and club legend Javier Zanetti (€8m) started at left-back, with Brazilian Maicon (€30m) at right-back. In central midfield was the aforementioned Motta (€12m), and Esteban Cambiasso (€29m). Just ahead of that pair was playmaker Wesley Sneijder (€29m), with Christian Chivu (€18m) off the left and Samuel Eto’o (€40m), formerly of Barca, down the right. Argentine striker Diego Milito (€24m), who would go on to score the two goals in the final that season, led the line. Inter’s XI on the night was worth €246m.