None seemed more unlikely than this semifinal matchup against Barca, whose dizzying passing attack allows it to score in bunches, especially on its home ground.
This was a classic match-up of Inter's defence against Barca's attack, though Mourinho's side did have a brief glimpse of goal when Samuel Eto'o found himself in space in the box from Wesley Sneider's cross, only for his touch to allow Pedro to get back and clear.
Lucescu's half-time teamtalk must have focused on damage limitation, but against a Barca team committed to wave after wave of attack and with a monopoly on possession it was an almost impossible task.
Despite the views of one of its favorite sons, the football club is less forthright in extolling the virtues of independence, reflecting that not all Barca fans are against a unified Spain.
In 1989, he was an aspiring Barca midfielder when the then 22-year-old suffered a serious knee against Milan in the European Super Cup - an injury that would bring his career to a premature end four years later.
Sanchez equalized inside 10 minutes, heading his ninth league goal this season from Iniesta's cross, and Barca almost took the lead just before halftime when Cristian Tello smashed a shot against the underside of the bar -- the ball appeared to hit the line before bouncing to safety.
However, Inter will argue they deserved their slice of luck, and the match-up of Mourinho against Bayern boss Louis van Gaal, one of the men under whom he served his apprenticeship at Barca, provides a fascinating back-drop to what will be an hotly-contested final next month.
But Messi, named Europe's top player for 2009 during the week, put Barca ahead again with 10 minutes left from Pedro's cross and Zlatan Ibrahimovic followed up his winner against Real by wrapping up the victory on 88.
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