Ansu Fati became the youngest scorer in Champions League history as a baby Barcelona side beat Inter Milan 2-1 at San Siro and knocked Antonio Conte’s men out of the competition on Tuesday night.
With Barca already qualified for the knockout stages and confirmed as group winners, coach Ernesto Valverde left Lionel Messi behind in Barcelona, along with Gerard Pique and Sergi Roberto.
Valverde picked a number of youngsters in his side, including Jean-Clair Todibo, Moussa Wague and Carles Alena, while Neto came in for his competitive debut in goal.
Inter needed to match Borussia Dortmund’s result to advance to the last 16, with the Germans in action at home to Slavia Prague in the other Group F match.
And after some early pressure, Romelu Lukaku saw a goal ruled out for offside after seven minutes as he and Lautaro Martinez caused problems for Barca’s three-man back line in the opening exchanges.
But Carles Perez, on his Champions League debut, fired the Catalans in front after 27 minutes.
Antoine Griezmann fizzed a pass into the box looking for Arturo Vidal, but Diego Godin’s touch inadvertently played the ball into the path of Perez, who was left with a simple finish.
Lukaku levelled a minute before there break to get Inter back in it after Martinez held off Todibo and left the Belgian with an easy finish.
With the scores also 1-1 in Germany, Inter were through at that point, but BVB scored again and the Italians went in search of a second-half winner at San Siro.
Twice they thought they had it, Lautaro chesting the ball down brilliantly and volleying past Neto, only to see his effort cancelled out for a marginal offside.
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And Lukaku, after firing straight at Neto from close range moments earlier, was also denied by the assistant’s flag as he netted from close range late in the game.
With the game then seemingly heading for a draw, substitute Fati - aged just 17 years and 40 days - ran forward, played a one-two with Luis Suarez and hit a low shot past Samir Handanovic and just inside the post to secure a 2-1 win for Barca right at the end.
Dortmund won the other game 2-1, so Inter would have had to win and the defeat sees Conte’s side drop to the Europa League as BVB advance to the last 16 along with Barca, still unbeaten in this competition in 2019-20.
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Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has picked a load of youngsters tonight and on Twitter, the one he hasn't picked is trending...
Photo: Ben Hayward
The players are ready, waiting to come out on to the pitch. And we will be under way shortly!
Champions League debut for Carles Perez
With Lionel Messi left out of the squad altogether, Luis Suarez on the bench and Ousmane Dembele sidelined through injury, youngster Carles Perez comes in for his Champions League debut tonight - and at San Siro of all places.
The Catalan is joined in attack by Antoine Griezmann in what looks like a 3-5-2 formation for Barcelona in Milan.
Photo: Getty Images
Carles Alena makes first start since August
With Barcelona already qualified for the last 16 and guaranteed top spot in Group F, coach Ernesto Valverde has rotated his pack and picked an experimental XI tonight.
Ivan Rakitic and Arturo Vidal are joined in midfield by Carles Alena, who makes his first start since the opening day of the season, when he was substituted at the interval at San Mames in a game Barca ended up losing 1-0 to Athletic Club.
Photo: Getty Images
Neto makes Barcelona debut
Neto makes his Barcelona debut at San Siro. The Braziilian goalkeeper has had to wait patiently since signing from Valencia in the summer, but he starts tonight with Marc-Andre ter Stegen on the bench in the Champions League clash.
Barcelona's other two signings in the picture, Antoine Griezmann and Junior Firpo, also start. But the fourth, Frenkie de Jong, is on the bench.
Photo: Getty Images
Confirmed lineups
Inter Milan: Handanovic, Godin, de Vrij, Skriniar, Brozovic, D'Ambrosio, Valero, Vecino, Biraghi, Martinez, Lukaku
Subs: Politano, Lazaro, Dimarco, Padelli, Esposito, Candreva, Bastoni
Barcelona: Neto, Todibo, Lenglet, Umtiti, Wague, Rakitic, Vidal, Firpo, Alena, Perez, Griezmann
Subs: ter Stegen, Busquets, Suarez, de Jong, Fati, Araujo, Morer
Referee: Bjorn Kuipers
Barcelona team news
With qualification for the Last 16 already secure, Lionel Messi has been rested for the trip to Milan.
Luis Suarez is likely to lead the line, but Messi’s absence means there could be a chance for Carles Perez on the right.
Goalkeeper Neto is in line to make his debut in goal after signing from Valencia in the summer, while Samuel Umtiti should also come in for a start at the back as Gerard Pique sits out.
Predicted XI: Neto; Wague, Umtiti, Lenglet, Junior Firpo; De Jong, Vidal, Alena; Carles Perez, Suarez, Griezmann
Inter team news
There are four players missing for Conte’s side with Alexis Sanchez, Roberto Gagliardini, Stefano Sensi and Nicolo Barella will absent through injury.
Predicted XI: Handanovic; Godin, De Vrij; Skriniar; D’Ambrosio, Valero, Brozovic, Vecino, Biraghi; Martinez, Lukaku
How things stand
Inter need a result to secure their places in the knockout stages, while the Spanish champion have already booked their passage from Group F.
The hosts are second, level on points with Borussia Dortmund, and need to match the Bundesliga side’s result to advance to the last 16.
Antonio Conte’s side were beaten 2-1 at Camp Nou back in October.
Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of Inter Milan vs Barcelona tonight!