We preview and predict Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg at San Siro, where Internazionale host Barcelona. Can Inter’s strong European home record hold off Barça’s all-star attack?
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Inter vs Barcelona: Preview
Inter vs Barcelona Preview: To grasp how much Internazionale and Barcelona value the UEFA Champions League, consider the players they left on the bench during their respective domestic matches over the weekend.
Despite engaging in tight title races in their national leagues, both managers rested key players. Only three of the 22 starters from last week’s thrilling first leg featured again over the weekend—Pedri and Gerard Martín for Barcelona, and Yann Bisseck for Inter.
Inter relied on their second-string lineup to grind out a 1-0 home win against Hellas Verona, keeping them within three points of Serie A leaders Napoli. Meanwhile, Barcelona turned to Lamine Yamal, Frenkie de Jong, and Raphinha to claw back from a first-half deficit against already-relegated Real Valladolid.
The first leg, which ended 3-3 in Spain last Wednesday, already stands out as a modern classic. Yamal’s performance, in particular, left a lasting impression, and his meteoric rise to footballing greatness remains astonishing—especially as he’s still two months shy of adulthood.
Yamal has netted five Champions League goals this season, with only three teenagers in the competition’s history—Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, and Raúl—scoring more in a single campaign, each playing in more central roles.
On the opposite flank, Raphinha continues to make waves. Even if Barcelona fall short of Champions League glory, the Brazilian winger will remain central to Ballon d’Or conversations. With 12 goals and eight assists this campaign, his 20 goal involvements trail only Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 21 (17 goals and four assists) from the 2013-14 season with Real Madrid.
To overcome Simone Inzaghi’s Inter—still one of Europe’s elite sides despite a shaky end to April—both Yamal and Raphinha must deliver peak performances.
Key Absentees and Historic Stakes Define the Second Leg
Inter vs Barcelona Preview: Inter have gone unbeaten in their last 15 home games in the Champions League—their longest undefeated run at San Siro in European competition since the 1980s. They’ve also won nine of their last 11 European semi-final matches on home turf.
However, the reigning champions of Italy will likely miss their captain and top scorer, Lautaro Martínez, in the second leg. Inter substituted him at halftime last week after he suffered a muscle injury, and his availability remains doubtful.
Even without Martínez, Inter showed their attacking firepower in the first leg, scoring three goals against Barcelona. Marcus Thuram opened the scoring in the first minute, and Denzel Dumfries added two more. If either player finds the net again on Tuesday, he will become the first Inter player to score in both legs of a European Cup semi-final since Giacinto Facchetti did so in 1966-67.
Torres Steps Up, Barcelona’s Attack Nears Record-Breaking Form
Inter vs Barcelona Preview: Barcelona, too, have had to cope without their leading scorer. Robert Lewandowski has missed the last four matches with a hamstring injury. While he may return on Tuesday, his starting spot is far from certain given Ferrán Torres’ form. Torres latched onto a Raphinha header to score in the first leg and has impressed in Lewandowski’s absence.
Torres currently enjoys the best form of his Barcelona career. Despite starting only 17 games this season, he has scored 19 goals in all competitions, averaging one every 92 minutes.
While Inter last reached the Champions League final in 2023, Barcelona haven’t appeared in the competition’s showpiece since 2015, when they defeated Juventus.
Under Hansi Flick, Barcelona have emerged as one of the most entertaining teams in Europe this season. Their fluid attacking style may expose them defensively, but it has also turned them into a fearsome offensive unit. They’ve scored 40 goals in this season’s Champions League—just five shy of the record they set in the 1999-2000 campaign.
Inter vs Barcelona: Head-to-Head
Inter Milan and Barcelona will face off in their 18th major European encounter—only Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid (28), Juventus vs Real Madrid (21), and Inter vs Real Madrid (19) have occurred more frequently. The last two meetings between Inter and Barcelona, including October 2022 and last week’s first leg, both ended in thrilling 3-3 draws in the UEFA Champions League.
Barcelona have secured just one win in six Champions League visits to Inter, a 2-1 victory in December 2019. In total, they have won only five of their 24 away matches in Italy (21%), marking their lowest win percentage in any foreign country in the competition.
Inter vs Barcelona: Team News and Predicted Lineup
Inter – Team News
After holding Barcelona to a thrilling draw in last week’s first leg, Inter Milan will host the Spanish giants at San Siro on Tuesday to settle their Champions League semi-final clash.
Inter manager Simone Inzaghi has all but ruled out captain and top scorer Lautaro Martinez, who sustained a hamstring injury at Montjuïc and remains highly unlikely to feature.
With Joaquin Correa excluded from Inter’s UEFA squad, Inzaghi will likely partner either Mehdi Taremi or Marko Arnautovic with first-leg scorer Marcus Thuram up front. Thuram has scored 14 league goals this season—a career-best—but neither of his possible strike partners has found consistent form.
In defence, Yann Bisseck is expected to retain his place in the back three alongside Alessandro Bastoni and Francesco Acerbi, with Benjamin Pavard still recovering from an ankle sprain he suffered against Roma last month. Inzaghi rested both Bastoni and Acerbi over the weekend to keep them fresh for this crucial clash.
Suspended domestically on Saturday, Hakan Calhanoglu returns to Inter’s midfield, where he’ll line up alongside Nicolo Barella and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
After giving backup keeper Josep Martinez a rare start, Inzaghi will recall Yann Sommer—who was unlucky to score an own goal in the first leg—as the starting goalkeeper.
On the flanks, Federico Dimarco and Denzel Dumfries—who netted twice against Barcelona—will resume their usual wing-back duties.
Inter – Predicted Lineup (3-5-2)
- Goalkeper – Sommer
- Defenders – Bisseck, Acerbi, Bastoni
- Midfielders – Dumfries, Mkhitaryan , Calhanoglu, Barella, Dimarco
- Forwards – Thuram, Arnautovic
Barcelona – Team News
After playing out a thrilling first leg, Barcelona will face Inter Milan again on Tuesday as they continue their battle for a spot in this season’s Champions League final.
With both teams scoring three goals last week, Barcelona return to San Siro for the second leg, where star striker Robert Lewandowski could make a timely return.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick revealed that Lewandowski may recover from his injury in time for the clash, although he confirmed that first-choice left-back Alejandro Balde won’t be fit enough to make the squad.
As Lewandowski remains short of full fitness, dynamic wingers Lamine Yamal and Raphinha—Europe’s most productive duo this season—are expected to support Ferran Torres in attack.
Raphinha has scored 30 goals in 51 club appearances this season, while Yamal has recorded 44 shots, 19 shots on target, and 78 dribbles—more than any other teenager in a single Champions League campaign.
Flick rotated his squad over the weekend to focus on the second leg and the looming El Clasico against Real Madrid. Most notably, Marc-Andre ter Stegen returned to the starting lineup after a long layoff, though Wojciech Szczesny is expected to reclaim the goalkeeper’s spot.
Yamal, Raphinha, Dani Olmo, Pau Cubarsi, and several others will return to the starting XI in Milan, while right-back Jules Kounde remains unavailable due to a hamstring injury.
With Gerard Martin struggling in the first leg and Kounde ruled out, Flick could deploy Eric Garcia or Gector Fort in right back and Ronald Araujo in central defence to bolster Barcelona’s aerial strength against Inter’s set-piece threat.
Barcelona – Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)
- Goalkeper – Szczesny
- Defenders – Fort, Cubarsi, Martinez, Martin
- Midfielders – De Jong, Pedri, Olmo
- Forwards – Yamal, Raphinha, Torres
Inter vs Barcelona: Prediction
Inter took control of the match against Barcelona last week, scoring within 33 seconds through Marcus Thuram. Denzel Dumfries’ ability to exploit Barcelona’s high defensive line stood out, but the Catalans adjusted and found better control in the second half. Barcelona will maintain their attacking style at San Siro, promising another exciting encounter that remains hard to predict.
The previous two meetings between these teams ended 3-3, and it’s reasonable to expect another goal-filled clash with such a significant prize on the line.
Inter, struggling with form and an aging squad, have shown signs of vulnerability. Barcelona, despite their own shortcomings, have the attacking strength to secure a win in Milan.
Prediction: Barcelona 2-2 Inter (Aggregate 5-5)
Inter Win On Penalties
When and Where to Watch Inter vs Barcelona Match? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The UEFA Champions League 2024-25 semi-final second leg between Inter and Barcelona will take place at the San Siro in Milan, Italy. The match is set for May 7 at 12:30 am IST. It will be broadcast live on the Sony Network and can be streamed online via Sony LIV.
Read More: Explained: Why Liverpool Will Miss the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Despite Winning Premier League Title
FAQs
The first leg ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw between Inter Milan and Barcelona.
Lautaro Martínez is unlikely to play due to a hamstring injury sustained in the first leg.
Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Ferran Torres are crucial for Barcelona’s attack in the second leg.
Inter is unbeaten in their last 15 home games in the Champions League.
The winner of the second leg will secure a spot in this season’s Champions League final.
