Inter vs. Barcelona: Why there IS a lot for Catalans to play for

Inter vs. Barcelona: Why there IS a lot for Catalans to play for

Neto
Neto, por fin, disputará un partido oficial con el Barça | sport

Barça will make changes but there are still reasons why they need to win the game

A Barcelona game is never just a game. Especially a Champions League game, a competition followed by millions of fans across the world. For that reason, to say that Barça have nothing to play for on Tuesday in Milan, that the match is not important, bla, bla, bla is a serious error. For many reasons. 

Compete... and compete well

Firstly, because Barça are obliged to always compete at the top level. Whoever is on the pitch. The shirt, the badge and the club's history obliges whoever is playing to compete. Secondly, because each time Barça step on to the pitch, their prestige is in play. The image that they offer is as important -- if not more important -- as the result. Said in another way: the team always has to compete. At the top level. With the players they have, whoever there is and whoever there isn't. There are no excuses. 

The absences of certain players (Ter Stegen, who will be on the bench, Pique, Sergi Roberto and Messi) shouldn't be the pretext to justify a bad result. The opposite. The absences are a golden opportunity for those who do not play as much to show their worth. It is the perfect shop window to prove themselves, to say 'I am here.' And on Tuesday, many of Ernesto Valverde's players who have played fewer minutes this season are fighting to earn their prize. 

Debut for Neto

One of those players will be the Brazilian goalkeeper Neto, who Valverde has confirmed will start. It will be the former Valencia man's official debut for the club, although he did play some friendlies in preseason. He got injured on Aug. 11 (and needed operation on a broken bone in his hand) and since then has not played. 

Last season, Neto was one of the best stoppers in La Liga and he arrived at Camp Nou to replace Jasper Cillessen, who asked to leave so that he could step out of the shadow of one of the best goalkeepers in the world, the German Ter Stegen. 

Money  

Another reason is purely financial, although that doesn't mean it's less important. Especially for a club with the biggest wage bill in Europe. For that reason, any extra money is a boost for the club. So far, Barça are guaranteed 34.6 million euros for their Champions League campaign this season. That's not bad. For qualifying alone they earn 15.2m, for reaching the last 16 they pocket another 9.5m. For each of their three wins in the group stage, 2.7m and for the two draws, 900,000.

Therefore, Barcelona can earn another 2.7m with a win at the San Siro. It all adds up. 

In addition, Barça's players that go out on Tuesday will know that Inter have to give everything. They're playing for their place in the last 16. They have to be at their best -- and the Serie A leaders have been in good form this season. If Barça are not at their best, there's a risk of electrocution. 

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