Barcelona and Inter Milan are scheduled to face off in the opening leg of the Champions League semifinals this Wednesday. Barcelona comes into the match in good spirits, having recently won the Copa del Rey and keeping their hopes for a treble alive. In contrast, Inter needs to bounce back after a defeat in the Coppa Italia and dropping from the top spot in Serie A.
A concern for the Italian side is their recent form in all competitions, having conceded five goals and failed to score in their last three outings. Striker Marcus Thuram missed all these matches due to an injury, but he might be fit enough to feature against Barcelona, which would be a significant boost. His partnership with Lautaro Martinez is dynamic; their movement creates space for each other and constantly challenges the opposition defense with their dangerous finishing ability.
Thuram did return to training on Tuesday and is now expected to start. His importance to Inter`s attacking play is considerable, and his likely inclusion, even if not fully fit, will provide the team with added impetus, especially when facing a high-quality opponent like Barcelona.
For Hansi Flick`s Barcelona side, Robert Lewandowski will be unavailable due to injury. However, this does not mean they lack attacking options. Ferran Torres is anticipated to lead the attack, and his link-up play with Dani Olmo could pose problems for Inter. The real threat could come from the wings, with Raphinha and Lamine Yamal. Raphinha has had a standout season, potentially even mounting a claim for the Ballon d`Or, with an impressive 30 goals and 23 assists for Barcelona across competitions. Youngster Yamal is also having an exceptional season, contributing 14 goals and 24 assists at just 17 years old.
Such production from a player of Yamal`s age is remarkable, and he continues to develop. Lewandowski`s absence will certainly be felt, but given that Inter has allowed a considerable number of shots in the Champions League this season, Barcelona should find opportunities to score. A high-scoring game would likely favor the Spanish team, although Thuram`s potential participation could alter the dynamics somewhat.
With the first leg taking place in Spain, the pressure is amplified for Inter to end their poor run. Their defense faces further challenges with Benjamin Pavard set to miss the match. Barcelona`s tendency to play a high defensive line might offer Inter chances, but it may not be enough for the Italian side to keep pace.
Predicted Lineups
Barcelona XI: Wojciech Szczesny, Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Gerard Martin, Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, 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, Marcus Thuram
