FC Barcelona welcome Inter Milan to the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys today for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final.
Kick-off is at 8 p.m. Moroccan time (GMT+1) and fans can catch the action live on BeIN Sports 1 MENA. BeIN Sports 1 English, Canal+ Foot, and M+ Liga de Campeones.
Barcelona arrive in scintillating form, fresh from a dramatic 3-2 extra-time win over bitter rivals Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final. That victory secured a second trophy of the season and kept the dreams of a treble alive. They are also top of La Liga, four points ahead of Real Madrid, with five games to play.
Despite a packed schedule and signs of fatigue – seven starters played all 120 minutes in the final — Flick is expected to stick to the same XI. The German admitted rotation is near impossible, saying the match’s magnitude demands full commitment.
Robert Lewandowski remains sidelined with a hamstring issue, so Ferran Torres will again lead the attack, flanked by Raphinha and Lamine Yamal. Dani Olmo will operate behind the front three, with Pedri and Frenkie de Jong in midfield. Szczęsny is expected to keep his place between the posts, with Ter Stegen not quite ready.
In the pre-match press conference, Flick warned of Inter’s defensive prowess: “Inter will be very difficult, they are one of the best defenders in Europe. They have a great midfield and great full-backs. We must be prepared.”
Inter, meanwhile, have limped into the semis after a rough week. They scraped past Bayern Munich 4-3 on aggregate in the last round, but have since crashed out of the Coppa Italia and dropped vital points in Serie A and now sit second with three points behind Napoli. Their treble dream is dead. So, the Champions League offers salvation.
Simone Inzaghi is feeling the pressure, but he’s not backing down. “We come from a bad week, but we can do and we have to do better,” he insisted in the pre-match presser. “We’re excited about the game we’re going to play tomorrow against probably the best team in the world… We have maximum respect, but no fear”
Inter are expected to start with Lautaro Martinez up front, though Marcus Thuram is a doubt. Marko Arnautovic could step in if the Frenchman fails to recover. In midfield, Hakan Calhanoglu, Nicolo Barella and Henrikh Mkhitaryan will aim to dictate the tempo and be at their best to sabotage Barcelona’s slick passing game.
“Flick is a fantastic coach who has given a lot of organisation to a very attacking team,” said Inzaghi. “They’ve scored over 150 goals this season… We’ll need to move the ball well, be clean in possession and defend as a team.”
Barcelona haven’t reached a Champions League final in ten years. Inter lost last season’s final narrowly to Manchester City. Both clubs know what is at stake, and neither will want to watch the final sitting on a couch in June.
Predicted Lineups:
Barcelona: Szczesny – Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Martin – De Jong, Pedri – Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha – Torres
Inter: Sommer – De Vrij, Acerbi, Augusto – Darmian, Frattesi, Calhanoglu, Barella, Dimarco – Martinez, Thuram
Head-to-head:
The teams have played on 12 prior occasions:
- Barcelona wins: 6
- Inter Milan wins: 2
- Draws: 4
Score Prediction:
Barcelona are tipped to edge Inter Milan with the Catalans riding high after their Copa del Rey triumph and Inter arriving on the back of three straight defeats. Expect a tight affair, but home advantage and momentum favour the hosts.
Verdict: Barcelona 3-1 Inter
