Inter Milan vs Barcelona – Champions League semi-final preview and team news

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·6 de mayo de 2025

Inter Milan vs Barcelona – Champions League semi-final preview and team news

Two of European football’s biggest clubs, Inter Milan and Barcelona, battle it out in the Champions League semi-final tonight.

The reigning Serie A champions have home advantage in the second leg as they welcome the current La Liga leaders to the San Siro. The tie is finely poised following last Wednesday’s thrilling 3-3 draw in Spain.

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Inter’s Lautaro Martinez and Benjamin Pavard have returned to training ahead of tonight’s match. The Nerazzurri’s top scorer didn’t appear for the second half of the first leg after suffering a minor muscular issue. The Argentine also didn’t feature on the weekend, although he has reportedly recovered in time to be available.

However, Pavard faces a late assessment to determine his fitness as the 29-year-old deals with an ankle problem.

Alessandro Bastoni, Denzel Dumfries, Nicolo Barella and Marcus Thuram were all unused substitutes on Saturday. Inter manager Simone Inzaghi opted to fully rest his key players to increase their chances of making the final.

Barcelona have also been boosted by the return of their master marksman as Robert Lewandowski is set to start. The experienced striker has missed the last few games due to a hamstring injury. However, the preferred full-back pairing of Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde are both ruled out with injury.

Brazilian winger Raphinha needs one more goal to equal Serhou Guirassy’s tally of 13 goals to claim the Golden Boot award for this season’s competition.

Inter Milan vs Barcelona – Semi-final preview and team news

Form

Inter: LLLDW

Inter returned to winning ways in Serie A as they narrowly edged out Hellas Verona at the San Siro on the weekend. Kristjan Asllani’s first-half penalty was the difference in Milan to keep Simone Inzaghi’s side within three points of leaders Napoli.

Prior to last weekend the Italian giants had failed to win their last six matches in all competitions – their longest winless run in two years.

Until recently Inter were in pole position to claim consecutive Scudettos. However, slender defeats to Bologna and Roma last month allowed Antonio Conte’s Napoli to displace them.

Only three league games remain in the campaign with the Nerazzurri trying to balance their title ambitions with their European exploits. They’ll be hoping they can lift their first Champions League title in 15 years with the Serie A trophy already in their possession.

Read – Inter Milan predicted lineup and team news vs Barcelona

Barcelona: WWWDW

Barcelona are four points clear of arch rivals Real Madrid in the race for the La Liga title. Like Inter, the Spanish outfit also prevailed on the weekend as they came from behind to beat Real Valladolid.

Hansi Flick and his side have been impregnable this term, particularly since the turn of the year. In 2025 they have lost only one of 30 competitive matches – which was a 3-1 loss to Dortmund in the second leg of a quarter-final tie they were already 4-0 up in.

In his first season in charge Flick is on course to complete the treble. Barcelona have already lifted the Copa del Rey after recently beating Real Madrid 3-2 in the final.

Undoubtedly, the most sought-after trophy for their cabinet is the Champions League. A lot has changed since the club’s name was last engraved onto the title a decade ago. The perfect way for Barcelona to mark their new era would be to establish themselves as the continent’s most fearsome team.

Read – Barcelona predicted XI vs Inter ahead of Champions League semi-final

Last Meeting: Barcelona 3-3 Inter, Champions League, 30th April 2025

The first leg produced a six-goal thriller, with nothing separating the two sides on an enthralling night.

Inter flew out of the traps and struck the first blow inside the opening 30 seconds. Denzel Dumfries’ cross was slightly behind Marcus Thuram, but the Frenchman improvised smartly to flick the ball past Wojciech Szczęsny.

The hosts failed to respond and Inter deservedly doubled their advantage. Federico Dimarco’s corner was kept alive by the head of Francesco Acerbi before Dumfries acrobatically volleyed in the second.

With the tie quickly slipping out of their grasp, Barcelona had to rely on their teenage prodigy to ignite their comeback. Lamine Yamal displayed his masterful dribbling and deceptive strength to evade a few defenders before effortlessly curling a shot in off the post. Yann Sommer was merely a spectator to the sublime solo attempt.

Yamal was in an unstoppable mood and almost grabbed a quick-fire second. The 17-year-old’s quick feet sent Dimarco sliding off the pitch before clipping the frame of the goal from an acute angle.

Barcelona were pressing for parity. Dani Olmo’s fierce drive needed to be palmed away by Sommer following Alessandro Bastoni’s error.

By the break Hansi Flick’s side drew themselves level through Ferran Torres. Raphinha cushioned a header into the Spaniard’s path, who couldn’t miss from a few yards out.

In the second half, Dumfries continued to influence proceedings with his physical presence. From a corner, the commanding full-back towered over Olmo and nodded in his second of the evening to put Inter back in front.

But Barcelona’s spirit was still not broken as they refused to be beaten. Almost immediately, Raphinha’s curling strike from range smashed off the woodwork and onto the back of the unfortunate Sommer. The Swiss stopper was helpless as he inadvertently turned the ball into his own net.

Both sides had chances to snatch a winner. Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s tidy finish was ruled out for a marginal offside while Yamal’s cross landed on the top of the crossbar.

The sensational affair will go down in history as one of the most entertaining Champions League semi-finals.

Read – Flick and Inzaghi hail ‘genius’ Lamine Yamal

What time is kick-off?

Kick-off at the Stadio San Siro will be at 20:00 BST on Tuesday, 6th May 2025.

Who is the referee?

Polish referee Szymon Marciniak will be the match official. Tomasz Listkiewicz and Adam Kupsik will assist him while Pawel Raczkowski will be the fourth official. Dennis Higler will be on VAR duty with Pol van Boekel assisting him.