Title: Barcelona vs Inter Milan: Semi-final First Leg Recap and Second Leg Preview
Match Preview for Barcelona vs Inter Milan: Insights, Projections, and Top Wagers
Barcelona and Inter Milan clashed in the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday, May 1, 2025. The highly anticipated encounter ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw.
Barcelona's Inspiring Performances
Fueled by the Copa del Rey triumph and their incredible season, Barcelona demonstrated their dominance in the match. Their last 28 fixtures saw them lose just once. They overcame Dortmund 4-0 in the quarter-final first leg, followed by a 1-0 triumph at Leganes. The 3-1 comeback at Dortmund marked the end of a 24-match unbeaten run, but victories against Celta Vigo and Mallorca quickly followed. On Saturday, they beat Real Madrid 3-2 in the Copa del Rey final in extra time.
Team News
Hansi Flick could have the same squad available as for the cup final, with Marc-André Ter Stegen expected to return to the bench after recovering. Marc Bernal and Marc Cassado will miss out on this fixture, while Alejandro Balde is close to a comeback but won't be fit for this match due to a hamstring complaint. Ferran Torres might feature as the central striker, and Gavi and Fermin Lopez could bolster the midfield.
Motivation
Barcelona are riding high, with their scintillating football making them a formidable force. They'll mercilessly menace Inter Milan in this first leg, relentlessly going for a two-goal lead to ensure a commanding edge in the second leg.
Inter Milan's Struggles
Despite boasting a 13-match unbeaten streak before the match, Inter Milan have lost their last three encounters. These losses have relegated them to second place in Serie A, ahead of the last four matches. Following a 2-2 draw at Parma in the league, they overcame Bayern Munich 2-1 in the Champions League quarter-final first leg. Their offensive prowess and resilience shone through amidst 20 shots and 2.30 xG conceded in that win. However, the cracks began to show after consecutive losses: Inter were beaten 1-0 at Bologna, lost 3-0 to AC Milan in the Coppa Italia semi-finals, and succumbed to a 1-0 defeat against Roma at home, conceding 19 shots and five big chances.
Team News
Coach Simone Inzaghi's side could be without Benjamin Pavard for this first leg. Valentin Carboni and Marcus Thuram remain injured, while right wingback Denzel Dumfries and central midfielder Piotr Zielinski are now available. Despite Alessandro Bastoni and Henrikh Mkhitaryan missing the last match due to injury, they are expected to be fit to start against Barcelona.
Inter Milan's Motivation
Inter's confidence has taken a beating in their recent losses, and they have a shortened squad. In the first leg, Inzaghi's side will aim to restrict the damage and view a draw as a promising result, with a one-goal defeat providing a fighting chance in the second leg.
Key Stats
- Barcelona have triumphed in 24 of their last 29 matches (4 draws, 1 loss)
- Barcelona's Raphinha has struck 15 goals in his last 14 matches in this competition
- Inter Milan have lost their last 3 matches (13 unbeaten before that)
- Inter Milan have conceded 13 goals in their last six away matches vs Barcelona
For the best bets on the upcoming second leg between Barcelona and Inter Milan, check out the in-depth analysis and predictions from our football expert James O'Connor.
Sources:
[1] Goal (2025). Barcelona 3, Inter Milan 3 – Live Updates, Highlights andlatest scores from the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg. [online] Available at: https://www.goal.com/en/match/barcelona-vs-inter-milan/3b96tusqkqo4w1dwdmgd73i32/live [Accessed 1 May 2025]
[2] ESPN FC (2025). Barcelona vs. Inter Milan: Live updates, odds, TV channel, how to watch UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg. [online] Available at: https://www.espn.com/soccer/serie-a/story/4702598/barcelona-vs-inter-milan-live-updates-odds-tv-channel-how-to-watch-champions-league-semi-final-first-leg [Accessed 1 May 2025]
[3] BBC Sport (2025). UEFA Champions League: Semi-finals. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56774884 [Accessed 1 May 2025]
[4] UEFA (2025). Match report – Barcelona 3-3 Inter Milan. [online] Available at: https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2024/matches/round=2031297/match=2031341/postmatch/report/index.html [Accessed May 1, 2025]
- Barcelona's remarkable 3-3 draw against Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg has set the stage for a fascinating second leg, given their impressive 24 wins in the last 29 fixtures.
- With Raphinha netting 15 goals in his last 14 matches, football enthusiasts might want to consider placing any time goalscorer bets on the Brazillian for the upcoming second leg.
- Despite Inter Milan's 13-match unbeaten streak before the encounter, their recent 3 losses, including a 1-0 defeat against Roma at home, demonstrate their vulnerability.
- Hoping to bounce back from their recent struggles, Inter Milan may aim for a defensive tactic in the first leg, viewing a draw as a promising result, given a fighting chance in the second leg due to the away goals rule.
- Inzaghi's side might also look to capitalize on Barcelona's potential squad changes, particularly the return of Marc-André Ter Stegen to the bench, as they aim to keep the scoreline manageable.
- Predictions for the second leg between Barcelona and Inter Milan, including football analysis, betting odds, and expert insights, can be found in our detailed article by James O'Connor.
