UEFA Champions League Semifinal: Inter Milan vs Barcelona - Match Preview
Taking it to Milan: Inter Milan vs Barcelona in Champions League semifinal showdown
Get ready sports fans, because it's game time! On Tuesday, two of Europe's football giants, Barcelona and Inter Milan, will face off in the second leg of their Champions League semifinal at the San Siro in Milan. Kickoff is at 9pm (19:00 GMT).
Follow Al Jazeera Sport for live text and photo commentary as the action unfolds.
A Tantalizing Tie
Barcelona, five-time UEFA Champions League winners, and Inter Milan, three-time title holders, are set to battle it out in a must-win match for Barcelona after a compelling 3-3 draw at home in the first leg. Inter will be hoping to use home advantage to their benefit, but they'll have to be on top form as they were far from their best in a recent Serie A league fixture against Verona, managing only a narrow 1-0 win.
Setting Records
Lamine Yamal, a 17-year-old sensation, stole the show in the first leg, scoring Barcelona's equalizer and breaking multiple records. He's now the youngest player ever to score in a Champions League semifinal, surpassing Kylian Mbappé's 2017 record. With youth and talent on their side, Inter manager Simone Inzaghi called Yamal "the kind of talent who is born every 50 years," while Barcelona coach Hansi Flick declared him a "genius."
Key Player Updates
Jules Kounde is set to miss the Champions League semifinal second leg for Barcelona due to a hamstring injury. However, star striker Robert Lewandowski may be fit to play after recovering ahead of schedule from a leg injury. For Inter, top scorer Lautaro Martinez's availability is questionable, but there's growing confidence that he'll suit up. Key defender Benjamin Pavard and star midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu are also set to return to the starting XI.
Predicted Lineups:
Barcelona possible XI:Szczesny; Eric, Araujo, Cubarsi, Inigo; de Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha; Ferran
Inter Milan possible XI:Sommer; Acerbi, Pavard, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Arnautovic, Thuram
Head-to-head:
In total, the teams have played 13 times:
- Barcelona wins: 6
- Inter Milan wins: 2
- Draws: 5
Managers' Predictions:
Hansi Flick, Barcelona manager: "We play with style and confidence, and we know what we can do. We have 90 minutes next week, and hopefully that’s enough to get to the final. That’s our goal, and we will fight for it."
Simone Inzaghi, Inter Milan manager: "We saw a fantastic match [in the first leg] and we knew that semifinals are difficult. We could have even won. I really liked the impact that our subs had. Our fans know that we've been giving our utmost in difficult times, and we know that Tuesday will be a 'final'."
Past Wins and Future Goals
Barcelona last won the Champions League in 2015, while Inter Milan last tasted victory in 2010. The winner of this semifinal heads to Munich on May 31 for the Champions League final, which will take place at the 75,000-capacity Allianz Arena.
Are you ready for an epic match-up between two football powerhouses? Tune in to Al Jazeera Sport for all the live action in this highly-anticipated Champions League semifinal!
- The highly-anticipated Champions League semifinal between Barcelona and Inter Milan will take place on Tuesday, with the second leg at the San Siro in Milan.
- After a compelling 3-3 draw in the first leg, Inter Milan will be hoping to use home advantage to their benefit, but they'll have to be on top form as they were far from their best in a recent Serie A league fixture against Verona.
- Barcelona's star striker Robert Lewandowski may be fit to play, but Jules Kounde will miss the game due to a hamstring injury. On the other hand, key defender Benjamin Pavard and star midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu are hopefully returning to Inter's starting XI.
- In the first leg, 17-year-old Barcelona sensation, Lamine Yamal, stole the show by scoring the equalizer and breaking multiple records, including the record for the youngest player ever to score in a Champions League semifinal.
- The winner of this semifinal will head to Munich on May 31 for the Champions League final, which will take place at the 75,000-capacity Allianz Arena. Are you ready for this epic match-up between two football superclubs? Tune in to Al Jazeera Sport for all the live action and breaking news!
