MILAN, Italy (AFP) — Inter Milan produced a stunning performance to beat holders Barcelona 3-1 in the Champions League semi-final, first leg at the San Siro yesterday.

Goals from Wesley Sneijder, Maicon and Diego Milito extinguished Pedro’s opener for Barca and sent the nerazzuri faithful into raptures ahead of next week’s second leg at the Camp Nou.

It was a tactical masterclass from Jose Mourinho as his team wiped out memories of the footballing lessons Barca gave them in the group stages back in September and November.

The Portuguese boss said even if his team don’t reach the final in Madrid, he will be satisfied.

“It gives me great pride to say that we could go to Madrid to play the final or we will come home from Barcelona with our heads held high,” he said.

“Obviously we’d be happy if we go to Madrid and if not we’d be disappointed but we know that we’ve done everything.

“When I arrived at Inter we had trouble just qualifying from the group stages, we didn’t do well in this competition and had a fear of winning and people said we couldn’t play in Europe.

“But now we’ve beaten the best team in the world and now Inter are a great Champions League team.

“If we don’t win it this year, we’ll win it next year or in two years time. We’ll be in semi-finals and finals, we’ve changed.”

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola was magnanimous in defeat and refused to blame the team’s 14-hour coach journey to get here for the loss.

“This can happen, especially when you’re playing in the semi-final of the Champions League and against Inter Milan,” he said.

“Of course it’s not ideal losing like this but we can still do it.

“The result is not good, we gave away too many balls, we can do better. This wasn’t our best game and Inter don’t make it easy for you to play.

“I know they’re tired but I’m not a medical expert and I can’t say how much the journey affected them.”