Five-time UEFA Champions League winners Barcelona travel to northern Italy to face three-time champions Inter Milan in the decisive second leg of their semifinal clash on Tuesday night.
With the first leg ending in a dramatic 3-3 draw, everything is still to play for at the iconic San Siro.
Barcelona, still chasing a historic treble—LaLiga, Copa del Rey, and Champions League—must now deliver on the road after a missed opportunity at home. They twice came from behind in the opening leg, with Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres leading the fightback, before a Yann Sommer own goal ensured parity heading into the second leg.
Inter, meanwhile, are sweating on the fitness of star striker Lautaro Martinez, who suffered a hamstring injury in the first leg.
Should he be unavailable, either Mehdi Taremi or Marko Arnautovic could step into the starting XI.
French defender Benjamin Pavard is also a doubt. However, midfield lynchpin Hakan Calhanoglu will return after serving a domestic suspension in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Verona, a match where coach Simone Inzaghi rotated heavily.
Kristjan Asllani’s early penalty ended Inter’s recent winless streak, but the Nerazzurri are expected to restore key players including Denzel Dumfries, Marcus Thuram, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and goalkeeper Yann Sommer to the starting lineup.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick also rested several starters over the weekend in preparation for this clash and the upcoming El Clasico.
Goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen made his first start since returning from injury, while the likes of Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Pau Cubarsi are set to be recalled. However, full-backs Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde remain sidelined.
In a welcome boost, Robert Lewandowski is close to a return and could feature from the bench.
Possible Starting Lineups:
Inter Milan:Sommer; Bisseck, Acerbi, Bastoni, Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco, Arnautovic, Thuram
Barcelona: Szczesny; Garcia, Araujo, Cubarsi, Martinez, De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha, Torres
