Barcelona and Inter Milan are set to clash in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal on Wednesday. Barcelona enters the match in strong form, fresh off a Copa del Rey victory that keeps their treble aspirations alive. In contrast, Inter needs to bounce back after a Coppa Italia defeat and losing ground in the Serie A title race.
A significant concern for the Italian club is their recent performance: zero goals scored and five conceded in their last three competitive fixtures. Star striker Marcus Thuram missed these recent matches due to injury, but his potential return against Barcelona would provide a major boost. The dynamic partnership between Thuram and Lautaro Martinez is crucial, as their movement creates space and their finishing ability poses a constant threat to opposing defenses.
Thuram did participate in training on Tuesday and is now expected to start. Given his vital importance to Inter`s attacking play, his likely inclusion in the starting eleven, even if not at full fitness, will undoubtedly lift the team, especially when facing a high-caliber opponent like Barcelona.
For Hansi Flick`s Barcelona side, Robert Lewandowski will be unavailable due to injury. However, Barcelona still possesses formidable attacking options. Ferran Torres is anticipated to lead the attack, and his link-up play with Dani Olmo could trouble Inter. The real threats on the wings come from Raphinha and Lamine Yamal. Raphinha has had an outstanding season, making a strong case for individual accolades with 30 goals and 23 assists across all competitions for Barcelona. Remarkably, the 17-year-old Yamal is not far behind, contributing 14 goals and 24 assists this season.
Such offensive output is exceptional for a player of Yamal`s age, and he continues to develop rapidly. While Lewandowski`s absence is a significant blow, Inter has conceded a considerable number of shots in the Champions League this season, suggesting Barcelona will have opportunities to score. A high-scoring game would likely favor the Spanish side, though Thuram`s presence could alter the dynamic.
With the first leg being played in Spain, Inter will face added pressure to end their recent poor form. Their defense will also be weakened by the absence of Benjamin Pavard. Barcelona`s high defensive line might offer Inter chances on the counter, but it remains questionable whether the Italian side can capitalize enough to keep pace.
Predicted Lineups
Barcelona XI: Wojciech Szczesny, Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Pedri, Gavi, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Raphinha, Ferran Torres
Inter XI: Yann Sommer; Yann Bisseck, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni; Denzel Dumfries, Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrik Mkhitaryan, Federico Dimarco; Lautaro Martinez, Mehdi Taremi
Benedict Kingsley