Event of the Day: Barcelona versus Inter Milan

Our event of the day is the UEFA Champions League fixture between Barcelona and Inter Milan at Camp Nou. The two teams lead Group B, with Barcelona taking first place in the group on goal difference. These two giants of European football have dominated their group, both defeating Tottenham Hotspur and PSV Eindhoven. With first place in the group on the line, it is sure to be an exciting night of football. Barcelona continue to be one of the best clubs in European football. They entered the 2018-19 season on the back of a domestic double. However, they lost in the quarter-finals of the 2017-18 Champions League to Roma and will be looking to go further this time. The Spanish side last won Europe’s premier club competition in the 2014-15 season. They opened their 2018/2019 competition with a 4-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven, with Lionel Messi scoring a record-breaking 8th Champions League hat-trick. They followed this up with a 4-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. With superstars such as Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi playing along side relatively new additions such as Philippe Coutinho and Clément Lenglet, Barcelona is boasting a side of the highest quality.

Meanwhile, Inter Milan plays in their first UEFA competition since the 2014-15 season and their first Champions League since the 2011-12 season. After a number of disappointing years, the once formidable giants of Italian football, who remain the only Italian team to never be relegated, appear to have returned to form. They secured Champions League qualification in a thrilling 3-2 victory against Lazio in the final match of the 2017-18 season. They come into the 2018-19 competition with a newly strengthened team, having added the likes of midfielder Radja Nainggolan and striker Lautaro Martinez. While their opening games of the Champions League were not as dominant as the victories Barcelona secured, Inter Milan still secured a 2-1 victory against both Spurs and PSV. The last time Barcelona and Inter Milan met in the competition was during the 2009-10 competition, where they both competed in Group F. They went on to meet again in the semi-finals, which Inter Milan won before going on to win the tournament. With the Italian side seemingly back to winning ways, this is a rematch that is long overdue. Unfortunately due to injuries, Messi is missing for Barcelona and Nainggolan for Inter, but it should still be a game of the highest quality.

Honourable mentions around the globe go to International Cricket, where Pakistan and Australia play in a T20 match at Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Australia have struggled as of late, having recently lost a Test Series to Pakistan. They had mixed results in a T20 Tri-Series tournament in Zimbabwe and prior to that, had been swept by England in both ODIs and T20 cricket. Meanwhile, Pakistani cricket has had a strong year, with their only real disappointments coming in the Asia Cup Semi-final defeat to Bangladesh and a tough ODI sweep by New Zealand at the beginning of the year. All eyes will be on Abu Dubai to see if Pakistan can continue with their strong form. Elsewhere, in the NBA, the LA Lakers, featuring LeBron James, look for their first win of the season as they face the Phoenix Suns at the Talking Stick Resort Arena. In the MLB, the World Series continues with Game 2 at Fenway Park.

Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!

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Photos by UEFA

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