Barcelona (AFP)

Luis Suarez as savior! A double of the Uruguayan, including an acrobatic chisel of anthology, allowed FC Barcelona to overturn Inter Milan (2-1) Wednesday in the Champions League, a happy success that is worth to the Catalans to join Dortmund at the head of the group F.

In a match of great intensity at the Camp Nou, Barça suffered a thousand deaths against the counterattacks of Inter, who quickly took the lead by Lautaro Martinez (3rd) and deserved to widen the gap. But the stainless Suarez, hitherto very mediocre, has emerged to equalize a limpid volley (58th) and then to carry the thrust, served by Lionel Messi (85th).

Given his first nightmarish period, Ernesto Valverde's team has come a long way. But she again avoided the defeat after being beaten, as against Dortmund (0-0) during the first day, which may reflect some mental strength.

In the group standings, Barça (4 pts) joined Borussia Dortmund, 2-0 winner of Slavia Prague, while Inter and the Czech club have only one point. And the Catalans can now consider with appetite the double confrontation with Slavia, considered the most modest team of the group ...

- Optical illusion -

Since Inter and Barça each had their 45 minutes of domination, this success looks like a sham.

Playing as badly as in the first period despite the return of injury to Messi, Barça will not go very far in this C1: the team blaugrana suffered against the tactical plan concocted by Antonio Conte, who was nevertheless deprived of his scorer Romelu Lukaku injured.

With his 3-5-2 dense and disciplined, the Italian technician has long managed to contain the circulation of the balloon Barcelona. And in two touches of the ball, the Inters quickly found the back of the opposing defense.

It is also on a Catalan defensive mess that Lautaro Martinez, diving into space, showed up in the area and scored with a cross shot resisting the return of Clément Lenglet (3rd).

This set the tone for the first period, when the Argentine striker almost recidivated in counterattack (16th, 45th) and found Marc-André ter Stegen's strong hand on a powerful header (37th).

If there are also two hot opportunities Stefano Sensi (33rd, 40th), Barca was in the ropes, unable to develop his usual repetition of passes.

Some attempts by Antoine Griezmann, encouraging and eye-catching (2nd, 15th, 61st), shy shots of a Messi (25th, 44th) still running ...

- Insubmersible Suarez -

To revive a team without ideas in the second half, Valverde dared to get out Sergio Busquets, one of the heavyweight cloakroom, to launch Arturo Vidal.

It was not an obvious choice, but it paid off: the Chilean midfielder positioned himself in relay from the attackers, connecting with Messi, and it was he who sent a perfect center for Suarez, scorer of an incredible acrobatic volley from the corner of the surface (58th).

It is now a constant with Uruguay's center-forward: at 32, he can appear slow, windy and not having a exploitable ball during the match. But he remains an outstanding finisher, who marks season after season splendid goals.

And his second goal, well offset by Messi, shows that the giants never die: control of Suarez in full race and finish full of composure (85th), his fifth goal this season in all competitions.

It's cruel for Inter, who deserved better before physically disintegrating. And it is a relief for Barça, much more relaxed in the second half with the successful entry of the French winger Ousmane Dembélé, wound income, instead of Griezmann.

What to erase the start of the season sluggish FC Barcelona? What, in any case, rebuilding confidence in the Catalans and unsinkable Luis Suarez.

© 2019 AFP