UEFA Champions League: Three Reasons Why Barcelona beat Inter Milan

#1 Even without Messi, Barcelona look like a solid team

FC Barcelona v FC Internazionale - UEFA Champions League Group B

It was bad news for Barcelona the moment, Messi fell to the ground clutching his arm in pain. Then it became even worse when the official diagnosis was released, Lionel Messi out for at least three weeks. That meant that for the first time in 11 years, there would be no El Clasico without either Messi or Ronaldo. It would also mean that Barcelona would face Inter Milan without their captain and would thus have to face a rampant Inter that had won seven in a row in all competitions.

However, out walked out a Messi-less Barcelona and while many expected a tight match, the La Liga giants produced something else. They were absolutely dominant in possession, as they always are but this time, it was all over the pitch. Even Suarez turned into a creator, providing a sumptuous pass for Rafinha to open the scoring.

The second goal was yet another brilliant a-typical Barcelona move, with Arturo Vidal, Jordi Alba and Ivan Rakitic playing within the confines of a one-two-three-one, with Rakitic producing the final pass for Jordi Alba. The Spaniard took it within his stride; beat Milan Skrinar before unleashing a lethal finish for Barcelona’s second of the night, ending any chance at an Inter Milan comeback.

In the end, they proved that even without arguably the greatest player to ever walk a football pitch, Barcelona had more than enough star power and class to shine through. However, their next test is a rather struggling Real Madrid in the El Clasico, and given the occasion, things could get complicated.