Inter Milan is set to welcome Barcelona to San Siro on Tuesday for the crucial second leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal. The initial encounter in Barcelona on April 30 ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw, widely regarded as one of the most memorable matches in recent memory. Both teams displayed exceptional football. Inter took an early lead with goals from Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfries within the first 22 minutes, only for Barcelona`s prodigious talent, Lamine Yamal, to pull one back with a magnificent solo effort. Ferran Torres equalized before halftime, bringing the score to 2-2. The second half continued the excitement, with Dumfries scoring again for Inter. However, an unlucky own goal by goalkeeper Yann Sommer, following a Raphinha shot that deflected off him, the post, and back in, leveled the score at 3-3. Despite the high-scoring first leg, both teams must secure a victory in Milan to reach the final in Munich on May 31. The outcome will be decided over the 90 minutes (or potentially more) in Milan on Tuesday, ahead of the other semifinal between PSG and Arsenal on Wednesday. Below are key storylines, viewing information, and more.
How to Watch and Odds
- Location: San Siro, Milan, Italy
- Live Stream: Paramount+
- Alternative Stream: Paramount+
- Odds: Inter +194, Draw +280, Barcelona +123
Last Meeting Before the First Leg
Before their recent semifinal clash, Inter and Barcelona last faced each other in the 2022-23 Champions League group stage, a season where Inter ultimately reached the final in Istanbul, losing to Manchester City. In their first group stage match, Inter won 1-0 at San Siro thanks to Hakan Çalhanoğlu`s goal just before halftime. The return fixture at Camp Nou was a six-goal thriller. Ousmane Dembele opened the scoring for Barca in the 40th minute, but goals from Nicolo Barella and Lautaro Martinez turned the game around for Inter. Robert Lewandowski equalized for Barcelona eight minutes from the end, and while Robin Gosens seemed to have secured victory for Inter with an 89th-minute strike, Lewandowski found the net again two minutes into added time to level the score at 3-3.
The Road to the Semifinals
Both teams navigated challenging paths to reach the semifinals. Barcelona, under coach Hansi Flick, had a strong group stage performance, finishing second with 19 points from eight matches (six wins, one draw against Atalanta on the final matchday, and one defeat). Their knockout journey saw them defeat Benfica 4-1 on aggregate before overcoming Borussia Dortmund in the quarterfinals. Inter also performed well in the group phase, securing fourth place with six wins, one draw, and a single loss away to Bayer Leverkusen. In the knockout rounds, Inter first eliminated Feyenoord in the round of 16 (after Feyenoord had beaten AC Milan in the playoffs) before achieving a significant 4-3 aggregate victory over German powerhouse Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals.
What Inter Are Saying
Speaking in the pre-match press conference, Inter manager Simone Inzaghi provided updates on his squad: `Both Lautaro [Martinez] and Pavard are highly motivated, but we need to assess their condition. Lautaro has been sidelined for a week. We will decide tomorrow on the best course of action. Tuesday`s match is pivotal for us; it could take us to the final. We will approach it with desire, strength, and aggression. Playing before our supporters provides an extra boost – for us, this feels like a final.`
What Barcelona Are Saying
Barcelona`s German manager Hansi Flick discussed the potential return of Robert Lewandowski to the starting lineup: `Considering his injury, I believe it might be preferable for Robert Lewandowski to begin on the bench, although he is fit and ready. We will evaluate if he is ready to start against Real Madrid. When we commenced this season, no one anticipated what we would accomplish thus far. Our aim is to enjoy playing football and ensure our fans enjoy watching us.`
Predicted 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.
Player to Watch
Lamine Yamal, Barcelona: The young Spanish sensation was a standout performer in the first leg in Barcelona, reaffirming his status as one of the world`s top talents and a potential contender for the 2025 Ballon d`Or. His performance in the first match suggested he is almost uncontainable, and if he maintains that level in the second leg on Tuesday, Inter`s defense will face an immense challenge in limiting his impact.
Storyline to Watch
Fitness of Key Strikers: Both managers, Inzaghi and Flick, face last-minute decisions regarding player fitness due to injuries. Inter captain Lautaro Martinez was substituted at halftime in the first leg due to a muscular issue but appears to be making a swift recovery for the second leg, though his starting status remains uncertain. French defender Benjamin Pavard also missed the final full training session on Monday, unlike Martinez, who trained partially. Barcelona has its own concerns; Alejandro Balde has not recovered in time to be included in the squad. However, Hansi Flick confirmed that their primary striker, Robert Lewandowski, will be available.
Prediction
Following the thrilling 3-3 draw in the first leg, the return match in Milan is also expected to be tightly contested. Prediction: Inter 2, Barcelona 2 (Inter wins 5-4 on penalties).
