By Graham Ruthven
Rivalry resumed
Not for the primary time, Barcelona and Inter Milan produced a traditional within the Champions League semi-final after they met final week.
In distinction to the 2010 encounter between the identical two golf equipment when José Mourinho edged a cagey, conservative affair in opposition to Pep Guardiola’s crew, the primary leg of this specific semi-final was sheer chaos, ending in a 3-3 draw.
This leaves Tuesday’s second leg on a knife-edge. Inter could have alternatives to attain once more. They are going to look to reveal the house in behind Barca’s excessive line with set items one other space the place they’ll harm the Catalans.
Barcelona, nonetheless, boast probably the most fearsome assault in European soccer. Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Pedri showcased their efficiency within the first leg and shall be influential at San Siro too.
Robert Lewandowski might function after lacking final week’s match by harm. The Polish striker’s return would give Barca a good sharper innovative in entrance of objective, though Hansi Flick already has a number of objective threats to depend on.
Key gamers
Inter want Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram at their sharpest to get the higher of Barcelona and make their second Champions League last in three seasons.
Thuram opened the scoring final week with an exquisite backheel end. Martínez, nonetheless, was pressured off early by harm and missed the weekend win over Verona. There are questions over his health.
Defensively, Inter have probably the greatest data on this season’s Champions League. That is all the way down to the standard of gamers like Alessandro Bastoni and Yann Bisseck with Federico Dimarco and Denzel Dumfries key retailers on the wings.
Even by Lamine Yamal’s unimaginable requirements, his efficiency within the first leg in opposition to Inter was outstanding. The 17-year-old registered extra pictures and dribbles than anybody else on the pitch, scoring an outrageous objective to get Barcelona again into the sport at 2-1.
Raphinha additionally made his mark by helping Ferran Torres with a neat header on the again publish earlier than forcing the Yann Sommer personal objective to make it 3-3, smashing a long-range strike off the bar and in off the goalkeeper.
The midfield battle between Pedri, Gavi and Frenkie de Jong and Nicolo Barella, Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Henrikh Mkhitaryan shall be key to figuring out the dynamic of the match.
Staff information
Martínez may not be totally match, however the Argentina ahead is anticipated to start out for Inter such is his significance to the Nerazzurri’s probabilities of making the Champions League last.
Nevertheless, Benjamin Pavard will certainly miss Tuesday’s semi-final second leg with Valentín Carboni additionally an harm absentee.
Marc-André Ter Stegen made his return from harm in opposition to Actual Valladolid on Saturday and can begin in opposition to Inter. Subsequent to return – Lewandowski shall be named on the bench. Jules Koundé, nonetheless, will miss the sport after coming off in the course of the first leg, as will left again Alejandro Balde.
Prediction
This one might go all the way in which, and equally, it might go both method, if final week’s intense first leg is any indicator. General, although, with Barcelona’s willpower and skill to at all times discover a method to win one thing that has been on show for the reason that flip of the yr specifically, we’re going with Barca to edge it. However don’t maintain us to it! Inter 1-2 Barcelona (4-5 agg).
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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