Filippo Monteforte: AFP. Inter Milan battled for more than an hour with 10 men to book its place in next month's Champions League final at the expense of Barcelona on a triumphant night for the Italian side's manager Jose Mourinho. The Spanish holders won the semi-final second leg but Inter went through on aggregate after a pulsating encounter at Barca's Nou Camp stadium to reach its first final of Europe's elite club competition since Mourinho, a former assistant coach at Barca, raced onto the pitch at the final whistle, his wild eyes fixed on the small section of triumphant Inter fans as he pointed a celebratory finger to the sky.
He clashed with Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes as a hail of objects rained down from the stands before he returned to the embrace of his ecstatic players.
After losing last week's semi-final first leg in Milan , Barca coach Pep Guardiola fielded an ultra-attacking formation and with the home fans roaring their support the visitors' defence came under immediate pressure.
For all their early possession Barca was struggling to create chances and a Pedro volley in the 22nd minute that flashed narrowly wide was their first real effort on goal. Tempers boiled over five minutes later when Inter midfielder Thiago Motta flung out an arm in a challenge with Sergio Busquets which sent the Barca player tumbling to the turf clutching his face.
Former Barca player Motta, who had already been booked, was sent off, sparking a melee in which he grabbed Busquets by the back of the neck before being led away. The dismissal was the cue for a magnificent rearguard action from Inter which dealt with almost everything the fearsome Barca attack could throw at the Italians.
