After two years, Inter are back among the top four in Europe, but unlike in 2023, when they contested a place in the final against their cousins Milan, they are the only Italian team in the semi-finals. However, to return to the final of the Champions League, the Nerazzurri face an even tougher obstacle than the one they overcame in the quarter-finals, Bayern Munich. We are talking about Barcelona, one of the strongest and most in-form teams in Europe, who can still achieve the infamous Treble (it would be the third time in their history after 2009 and 2015).
Speaking of the Treble, the semi-final clash with the Catalans brings back fond memories for the Beneamata fans. In 2010, before lifting the big-eared cup for the first time in 45 years, Inter, then coached by José Mourinho, had to take the scalp of the Blaugrana, who were eliminated in the semifinals after two epic games, despite the Nerazzurri starting as clear underdogs.
Once again, it will take a feat to get the better of a Barça side that is ahead of Inter in the odds (and not by a small margin). All the more so after the latest results recorded by Simone Inzaghi’s team, which gives the impression of having reached the crucial moment drained of ideas but above all of energy. Lautaro Martinez and his teammates arrive in Catalonia with three consecutive defeats under their belts, against Bologna, Milan, and Roma. All of them were very heavy defeats, more in substance than in form: the one against Milan in the Coppa Italia (0-3) dashed the dream of the Treble; the ones in the league against the Rossoblù (1-0) and the Giallorossi (0-1) are a blow to the Scudetto plans, given that Napoli took advantage and flew to +3 ahead of the reigning Italian champions.
Inter, the ’empty-handed’ nightmare
The nightmare of ending up empty-handed after being in contention on all fronts at the end of April is beginning to haunt Inter’s players, who are called upon to remain united in the most decisive and complicated match of the season.
Inzaghi’s men, after all, have done even better in the Champions League than in the league. They finished fourth in the group stage, level on points with Barcelona (19) and conceding just one goal. In the knockout stages, they comfortably eliminated Feyenoord in the round of 16, although their masterpiece came in the quarter-finals. They secured a heroic victory in Munich (1-2) and a 2-2 draw at San Siro at the end of a very evenly matched and intense game.
Barcelona also shone in the cup. Hansi Flick’s team finished second in the single group stage with the best attack (28 goals scored) and had a relatively easy run from the round of 16 onwards.
Neither Benfica nor Borussia Dortmund were able to trouble the Catalans, who only slipped up in the return leg against the Germans (3-1), but by then they had already secured qualification (the first leg had ended 4-0). Barcelona, incidentally, won their second trophy of the season on Saturday after the Spanish Super Cup, adding the Copa del Rey to their trophy cabinet thanks to their thrilling Clasico victory over Real Madrid, who they beat 3-2 after extra time. Barça are also battling it out with Los Blancos for the La Liga title: with five games to go, they are four points ahead of their eternal rivals.
Flick will not be able to count on Lewandowski against Inter either, but he hopes to have him back for the return leg. In any case, the German coach has so much quality at his disposal that he has shown in recent games that he can do without the experienced Polish striker. Inzaghi, on the other hand, has doubts and headaches: the Nerazzurri coach hopes to have Thuram and Dumfries back, at least on a part-time basis, but he will almost certainly be without Pavard at Montjuic due to an ankle problem.
How to watch Barcelona vs. Inter live on free-to-air TV and streaming
Barcelona vs. Inter is scheduled for Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. and will be played at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona. The match will be streamed on Amazon Prime Video and broadcast on NOVE (channel 9 on digital terrestrial television and 149 on Sky). On Amazon Prime Video, commentary will be provided by Sandro Piccinini, with technical commentary by Massimo Ambrosini. Subscription to the platform, which has exclusive rights to 16 Champions League matches on Wednesdays, costs $4.99 per month or $49.90 per year. Those who are not yet subscribers can activate a free 30-day trial.
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Odds comparison
A Barcelona win is priced at 1.62 on Goldbet and Lottomatica and 1.63 on Snai. A ‘Goal’ is priced at 1.57 on Goldbet and Lottomatica and 1.55 on Snai.
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The prediction
Three defeats against Bologna, Milan, and Roma – without scoring a single goal – have further diminished Inter, who will need to regroup if they want to have any chance of prevailing over a Barcelona side in great form. The previous encounters also favor the Blaugrana, who have won half of their 16 matches against the Nerazzurri in Europe (eight wins for Barcelona, five draws, and three wins for Inter), never losing in front of their home crowd. Flick’s team, unbeaten at Montjuic in this edition of the Champions League, are therefore the favourites and should win the first of the two semi-finals. However, the fact that the Blaugrana, in addition to dominating the game, always concede a lot to their opponents suggests a match with at least one goal for each side.
Probable line-ups for Barcelona-Inter
BARCELONA (4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Koundé, Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez, Martín; Gavi, Pedri; Yamal; Dani Olmo, Raphinha; Ferrán Torres.
INTER (3-5-2): Sommer; Bisseck, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Çalhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Lautaro Martinez, Arnautovic.