By Graham Ruthven
Champions League heritage
Within the pantheon of nice Champions League moments, Barcelona and Inter Milan produced one which lives lengthy within the reminiscence. Definitely within the reminiscence of José Mourinho whose best night time arguably got here when the 2 sides met within the competitors’s semi-finals.
Mourinho conquered Pep Guardiola that night time, and celebrated by sprinting throughout the Camp Nou turf. Simone Inzaghi is perhaps tempted to have a good time in an identical means ought to Inter obtain an identical outcome in opposition to Barca such is the Italians’ poor type proper now.
Inter are winless of their final three video games. They’ve fallen off the tempo on the prime of Serie A and are out of the Coppa Italia. Their season shall be outlined by what occurs within the Champions League.
Barcelona’s Treble problem is in higher form. Hansi Flick’s crew received the Copa del Rey by beating Actual Madrid in a manic closing on Saturday and are main the best way on the prime of LaLiga. Champions League glory can be inside attain.
Key gamers
Lamine Yamal shone brightly as Spain received Euro 2024 final summer time and the prodigious teenager can be driving Barcelona to continental glory as their creator in-chief. Certainly, the 17-year-old is Barca’s one-man attacking hub, recording 4 objectives and three assists on this season’s Champions League.
Raphinha has steadily benefited from Lamine Yamal’s creativity, however the Brazilian must be in sharper taking pictures type than he was in opposition to Actual Madrid within the Copa del Rey closing when he was wayward.
Pedri, then again, was in wonderful type in opposition to Actual Madrid, discovering the again of the online with a surprising strike. Gavi and Frenkie de Jong will look to regulate the midfield on Wednesday night time.
Inter will set as much as expose Barcelona’s excessive defensive position with Lautaro Martínez positive to be a risk. The Argentinean ahead has scored eight instances within the Champions League this season and was key in opposition to Bayern Munich within the earlier spherical (we gave him his flowers – right here.)
At his finest, Nicolo Barella is among the finest two-way midfielders in Europe. Nevertheless, Inter have appeared drained in central midfield in latest weeks, that means there’s a threat they might be overrun by Barcelona.
To get out from the again, Inter will want direct operating and tempo within the huge areas which is the place Carlos Augusto or Federico Dimarco might be so vital down the left aspect.
Staff information
Robert Lewandowski will miss Barcelona’s assembly with Inter via harm that means Ferran Torres will lead the road for the Catalans as he did within the Copa del Rey closing.
Marc Casadó and Marc Bernal are additionally sidelined with Alex Balde a doubt. Marc-André ter Stegen is perhaps again on the bench after lacking a lot of the season, however Wojciech Szczęsny is anticipated to begin.
Marcus Thuram’s absence has been keenly felt in latest matches. Inter shall be made to sweat on the attacker’s health earlier than Wednesday’s recreation. Benjamin Pavard is unquestionably dominated out, although.
Prediction
Barcelona have been nearly irrepressible because the flip of the 12 months, significantly at dwelling, and can have been buoyed by final Saturday’s success within the Copa closing. We predict that type will in all probability proceed however with Inter one other aspect who’ve been at their finest in Europe this season, the away aspect is perhaps do sufficient to maintain subsequent week’s second leg attention-grabbing: Barcelona 2-1 Inter.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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