Inter Milan is set to host Barcelona on Tuesday for the pivotal second leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal at San Siro. The teams played out a thrilling 3-3 draw on April 30 in Barcelona, a match widely regarded as one of the most exciting and memorable encounters in recent memory. Both sides displayed exceptional football. Inter initially took a 2-0 lead within 22 minutes thanks to goals from Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfries. Barcelona`s young sensation Lamine Yamal pulled one back with a magnificent solo effort, and Ferran Torres leveled the score at 2-2 before halftime. The second half was equally captivating; Inter regained the lead through Dumfries` second goal, only for Barcelona to equalize in unfortunate circumstances via an own goal from goalkeeper Yann Sommer, after a shot from Raphinha bounced off him, the post, and then back into the net off Sommer`s back. Despite the six-goal thriller in the first leg, neither side holds an advantage. A win is necessary in the return leg in Milan to secure a place in the final in Munich on May 31. The tie will be decided over the upcoming 90 minutes, or possibly more, on Tuesday in Milan, before the other semifinal between PSG and Arsenal takes place on Wednesday. Here is a preview of the upcoming match.
Recent Encounters
The last time these teams met before the recent first leg was in the 2022-23 group stage, the same season Inter reached the final but lost to Manchester City. Inter secured a 1-0 home win at San Siro with Hakan Çalhanoğlu scoring the decisive goal just before halftime on Matchday 3. The return match at Camp Nou was a six-goal spectacle. Ousmane Dembele opened the scoring for Barca, but Nicolò Barella and Lautaro Martínez turned the game around for Inter. Robert Lewandowski equalized for Barcelona eight minutes from time, but Robin Gosens appeared to secure victory for the visitors in the 89th minute, only for Lewandowski to score again two minutes into added time, making it 3-3.
However, their most iconic Champions League semifinal meeting occurred in 2010.
Journey to the Semifinals
Barcelona had a strong performance in the league phase of the tournament, finishing second in their group with 19 points from eight games (six wins, one draw against Atalanta on the final matchday, and one defeat). Before eliminating Borussia Dortmund in the quarterfinals, FC Barcelona defeated Benfica 4-1 on aggregate in the Round of 16. Inter also had a successful group stage campaign, finishing fourth with six wins, one draw, and a single defeat away to Bayer Leverkusen. Inter overcame Feyenoord in the tournament`s Round of 16 after the Dutch side knocked out AC Milan in the playoffs. The Nerazzurri then eliminated German giants Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals with a 4-3 aggregate scoreline.
Inter Manager`s Comments
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi provided updates ahead of the semifinal during his press conference on Monday: “Both Lautaro and Pavard are highly motivated, but we will need to assess their condition. Lautaro has been sidelined for a week. We will decide tomorrow what the best course of action is. Tuesday`s match can be a turning point for us; it could take us to the final. We will approach it with desire, strength, and aggression. Playing in front of our fans will provide an extra boost; it feels like a final for us.”
Barcelona Manager`s Comments
German manager Hansi Flick discussed the possibility of Robert Lewandowski starting on Tuesday: “I believe it might be better for Robert Lewandowski to start on the bench after his injury, but he is ready. We will see if he can start against Real Madrid [in a future match]. When we began the season, nobody anticipated what we would achieve up to this point. We want to enjoy playing football, and we want the fans to enjoy it too.”
Predicted Starting Lineups
Inter XI: Yann Sommer; Yann Bisseck, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni; Denzel Dumfries, Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrix Mkhitaryan, Federico Dimarco; Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram.
FC Barcelona XI: Wojciech Szczesny, Eric Garcia, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Pedri, Gavi, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Raphinha, Ferran Torres.
Key Player to Watch
Lamine Yamal, Barcelona – The young Spanish prodigy was outstanding in the first leg in Barcelona, once again demonstrating why he is considered one of the world`s best players and already a strong contender for the 2025 Ballon d`Or. In the first leg, he seemed unstoppable, and if he replicates that performance in Tuesday`s semifinal, Inter defenders may struggle to contain his talent.
Key Storyline
Fitness of Main Strikers: Both Inzaghi and Flick face last-minute decisions regarding player fitness due to injuries. Inter`s captain, Lautaro Martínez, had to be substituted at halftime in the first leg due to a muscular issue but appears set for a surprisingly quick return ahead of the second leg. However, his starting status is still uncertain, similar to French defender Benjamin Pavard, who did not train with the team on Monday in the final full session before the semifinal, unlike the Argentinian striker who partially trained. Barcelona has similar concerns; Alejandro Balde did not recover in time and is not in the squad. However, Flick will have his main striker, Robert Lewandowski, available again.
Match Prediction
Following the 3-3 draw last week, the second leg in Milan is expected to be another closely contested match.
Prediction: Inter 2, Barcelona 2 (Inter wins 5-4 after penalties).
Benedict Kingsley