Barcelona 2-0 Inter: Rafinha & Alba make the difference in Messi's absence

Barcelona stay at top of Group B with all 9 points in 3 games as Rafinha and Jordi Alba scored to make the difference in Messi's absence.

Match Report

Rafinha and Jordi Alba scored in Lionel Messi's absence as Barcelona beat the Brazilian's former club Inter 2-0 in the Champions League to move three points clear at the top of Group B.

Messi was absent due to a fractured arm that will keep him out for three weeks but Rafinha justified being brought into the team by opening the scoring in the first half at Camp Nou on Wednesday.

Luis Suarez sent in a brilliant cross and Rafinha slotted home against his old colleagues, with Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic in fine form before being beaten late on by Jordi Alba.

After taking maximum points from three rounds Barca are on the brink of qualification but Inter can expect to join them as they have a five-point cushion from winless PSV and Tottenham.

18' CHANCE! Lenglet's header saved

FIRST REAL CHANCE! Fine piece of goalkeeping from Handanovic, who holds firm and just manages to close his legs at the last second to keep Lenglet's header off the line! Well-worked corner there from the hosts.

27' SAVE! Fine stop from Handanovic

SMART SAVE! Not the most difficult in the end for Handanovic, though he had to get down quickly to deny Rafinha on the end of a terrific move from the hosts. 

Alba got it started down the left, before threading an incisive pass into the area for Suarez, who teed up Rafinha with a delicious back-heel.

32' GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Inter (Rafinha)

SIMPLY SENSATIONAL! 1-0 BARCELONA! Rafinha finds the back of the net against his former side with a simple first-time finish from six yards, on the end of an absolutely sublime cross from Suarez! That was inch-perfect from the Brazilian striker!

38' CHANCE! Vecino's shot over the bar

Not far away! Pique's defensive header, on the end of a lovely run from Skriniar, is cleared only as far as Vecino who sprints in and thunders a volley at goal, but just gets a bit under it as it sails a few inches over the bar!

50' CLOSE! Ter Stegen makes a great save

Important touch! Politano has done more in five minutes than Candreva managed to do in the entirety of the first half! A driving run down the right results in an inviting cross towards the far post, which Ter Stegen is late to react to, diving across to parry just in time, preventing it from creeping in!

59' CHANCE! Suarez's shot saved

DELIGHTFUL RUN! That's a mesmerising bit of play from Suarez, who dances beyond his marker in the penalty area, cutting inside to open up a shooting lane, but Handanovic makes himself big to deny the striker!

61' Excellent save from Handanovic!

IT WAS THERE ON A PLATTER! Massive let-off for Inter as Asamoah's abysmal defensive header serves the ball up incredibly kindly for Lenglet, who has Handanovic at his mercy from point-blank range, but shoots straight at him! Not exactly who Barcelona would have wanted that to fall to!

67' Hilarious wall defence from Inter!

Everyone enjoyed that! A humorous, yet an ingenuitive bit of play from Brozovic, as Barcelona take a free-kick. 

The midfielder creeps behind the Inter wall and lays flat on the ground as he blocks Suarez's free-kick, which had been driven low and under the wall. Even Messi appreciated that one - the injured Barcelona forward spotted laughing in the stands.

71' OFF THE BAR! Coutinho almost scores

OFF THE BAR! A huge chance for Barcelona to put the match to bed, but Inter escape again! 

Coutinho the architect as he clips a cross in for Suarez, who sees his header saved by Handanovic, before Coutinho then creeps into the area and clips the rebound off the woodwork!

83' GOAL! Barcelona 2-0 Inter (Alba)

BARCELONA PUT THE MATCH TO BED! 2-0! A lovely run from Alba, who is picked out by an even better ball by Rakitic, and the full-back produces a striker's finish to coolly beat Handanovic from 10 yards. Surely three points for them now!

Line-ups

Barcelona XI: L. Suárez, Piqué, I. Rakitić, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Philippe Coutinho, M. ter Stegen, S.Roberto, Rafinha, Lenglet, Arthur

Subs: Vidal, Jasper Cillessen, Semedo, Munir, O. Dembélé, Malcom, Chumi Brandariz

Inter XI: João Miranda, I. Perišić, S. Handanovič, Candreva, Valero, Asamoah, D'Ambrosio, M. Vecino, M. Brozović, Skriniar, Icardi

Subs: D. Padelli, Ranocchia, Š. Vrsaljko, De Vrij, Politano, K. Baldé, Lautaro Martínez