Inter-Barca Showdown at the San Siro in the Champions League Semifinal

After what has been a truly fantastic campaign in the Champions League this season, we are now at the semifinals as two incredible sides get ready to face each other.

At one side is Inter Milan, the winners of Serie A for the last three seasons (four when you add in the title from the Calciopoli scandal) and have reached the semifinals of the Champions League for the first time since 2003.

With a fantastic manager in Jose Mourinho and a side that is determined to win the Champions League for the first time since 1965 (when it was the European Cup), this Inter side will have to face an opponent that has already beaten them once this season.

That side is the defending title-holders of the Champions League, FC Barcelona, who have faced Inter twice in the Group Stage this season, and are arguably the best football club on the planet at this moment.

With a great young manager in Pep Guardiola and stars such as Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and company, they are expected to win the Champions League yet again.

And despite the recent ash problems in Europe due to the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which erupted on Monday, the matches will go on not only in this Champions League fixture, but also in the Bayern Munich-Lyon fixture on Wednesday, and the Europa League fixtures between Hamburg and Fulham and Atletico Madrid and Liverpool. 

Here is my preview of this match which includes how they were able to get this far in the Champions League, what their strengths and weaknesses are, who to watch for in this first leg, and who will win.

Inter Milan

How they got here: Finished second overall in Group F, beat Chelsea 3-1 on aggregate in Round of 16, beat CSKA Moscow 2-0 on aggregate in quarterfinals.

Strengths: Throughout this season, Inter have finally started to play up to their full potential in the Champions League, and now they have been playing great in tough fixtures as of late in the Champions League.

By advancing past Chelsea and CSKA Moscow, Inter will now look to keep up their great success in the semifinals, (where they are for the first time since 2003).

Weaknesses: The biggest weakness for Inter is that they have to deal with Barcelona, who have been great as of late and of course have the hottest player on the planet in Lionel Messi.

Also, the Nerazzurri have had some problems until recently in Champions League fixtures at the San Siro, but that should not be a problem in this match.

Who to watch for: How will Inter handle Lionel Messi, as Messi's impact will definitely help Barcelona get many great chances at the San Siro here in the first leg.

FC Barcelona

How they got here: Finished first overall in Group F, beat VfB Stuttgart 5-1 on aggregate in Round of 16, beat Arsenal 6-3 on aggregate in quarterfinals.

Strengths: It has to be the great form of late that Barcelona have employed. With players such as the previously mentioned Lionel Messi and his "helpers" in players such as Xavi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Barcelona have been unstoppable.

Messi truly went to the next level against Arsenal in the second leg of the Champions League semifinal in the Camp Nou with an incredible four-goal performance, and it will be expected that will continue here in the semifinals.

Weaknesses: For Barcelona, it could be that they could underestimate a very talented Inter Milan squad. Inter have been very strong as of late in the Champions League, and they will be looking to get off to the right foot here in the first leg in Milan.

What to watch for: It will be if Lionel Messi will continue his great form in the Champions League as of late, as he was spectacular against Stuttgart and Arsenal in the knockout stages, and this will once again be a great stage for the Argentine Mastero to show us how great he really is.

Prediction: This is a matchup that is good enough for a Champions League final. Two great sides that have been on top of their game as of late is always a great matchup, and it only gets better when these two sides want to win the Champions League for different reasons.

But recently, Inter have not been the best side as of late, and with Barcelona's great form, I will choose Barcelona to win 2-1 in what will be a match for the ages.