Inter, though, did manage the rare feat of stopping the holders and their Argentine magician from scoring back in September when they met in a goalless draw in the group stages at the San Siro.
A 0-0 draw in the La Liga derby with Espanyol on Saturday and tired limbs from the 985-km bus trip, including an overnight stay in Cannes, will also give Inter hope that Barca will not be at their sparkling best.
"With so many hours together on the coach, I am sure it will help us to be more united and to create a tight-knit group to beat Inter," midfielder Sergio Busquets told a news conference.
"It's a long journey and it's not something we are used to but with music and some films I'm sure the trip will feel much shorter."
In recent games, Guardiola has dropped one forward in his habitual attacking trident in favour of a full back, Daniel Alves or Maxwell, who have played in an advanced role to help combat opponents' attempts to crowd the midfield.
Meticulous Inter coach Jose Mourinho will have taken note of how Espanyol successfully harried and disrupted Barca's creative department, keeping Messi and Xavi largely under wraps with close man-to-man marking.
UEFA said in a statement on Sunday that the game and Wednesday's other semi-final first leg between Bayern Munich and Olympique Lyon would go ahead despite the travel problems.
"We have to prepare for the match with tranquillity. Games like these are played more with your mind than with your feet," Inter's former Barca striker Samuel Eto'o told Inter Channel.
Inter Milan: 12-Julio Cesar; 13-Maicon, 25-Walter Samuel, 6-Lucio, 4-Javier Zanetti; 8-Thiago Motta, 19-Esteban Cambiasso, 5-Dejan Stankovic; 10-Wesley Sneijder; 9-Samuel Eto'o, 22-Diego Milito
