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MUMBAI: Inter Milan v Barcelona - Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan (ITA)
Volcanic ash notwithstanding, San Siro will be the stage where the UEFA Champions League Semi Final first leg drama will unfold. European Football giants and holders Barcelona will take on Inter Milan in what promises to be a charged up encounter. Inter Coach Jose Mourinho has his plans for football sensation Lionel Messi and it will interesting to say the least as to see how the ?most meticulous of tacticians? will strive to stop the `most spontaneous of players?. Inter Milan have a super track record at home, and will want to keep that fact intact. To watch all the action live from this game, tune into Ten Sports. ( please check schedule)
Looked at objectively, Barcelona should be far too fluid and elusive to be constrained by Inter. Since knocking out Chelsea in March, Inter have fallen away in Serie A. In Italy, Inter?s slump is being blamed on Mourinho and the uncertainty about his future. He has been in open war with the Italian press and the football federation for most of the season and, while he says he continues to enjoy working with Inter, does not like Italian football. In the other camp, Barcelona coach Josep ?Pep? Guardiola is pleased with the form of the young forward Pedro. According to him the young man has exceeded all expectations and has been a revelation since coming into the first-team.
Bayern Munich v Lyon - Fu?ball Arena M?nchen, Munich (GER)
In the other semi final match Bayern Munich will hope that 13 is indeed a lucky number for them as they will play their 13th European Champion Clubs‘ Cup semi-final. They host Olympique Lyonnais who are contesting their first UEFA Champions League semi final. Despite this fact, recent history finds the pair evenly matched. Bayern will not take Lyon lightly as the French side have already knocked Liverpool and Real Madrid out of the Champions League this summer and they will be hoping to add a third big scalp in Bayern. To watch all the action live from this game tune into Ten Sports. (please check schedule)
It may have taken Bayern time to get used to their Dutch Coach Van Gaal, yet the players could end up as grateful to the shrewd trainer as some of his erstwhile pupils. FC Internazionale Milano coach Jos? Mourinho was Van Gaal‘s assistant at Barcelona, and he and the Dutchman are the only trainers to lead three sides into the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. Josep ?Pep? Guardiola was another protege, captaining Van Gaal‘s Barcelona team that reached the last four in 1999/2000.
