FC Barcelona is set to host Inter Milan in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals on Wednesday. This match comes shortly after Hansi Flick`s side secured their second trophy of the 2024-25 season, defeating Carlo Ancelotti`s Real Madrid 3-2 in the Copa del Rey final. The Catalan giants are still aiming for a historic treble under their German manager, currently leading La Liga by four points over Real Madrid and competing in the latter stages of Europe`s premier club competition. Inter, conversely, is navigating a difficult period, having lost three consecutive matches for the first time under manager Simone Inzaghi (Serie A defeats to Bologna and AS Roma, and elimination by city rivals AC Milan in the Coppa Italia semifinals). The Nerazzurri are now three points behind Napoli in Serie A with only four games remaining, facing a high probability of finishing the season without silverware.
Spain recently experienced a significant power outage impacting major cities like Madrid and Barcelona, causing widespread disruption to airports and transportation. This raises concerns as Inter is scheduled to fly to Spain on Tuesday. The situation brings to mind the 2010 incident when the Eyjafjallajökull volcano eruption disrupted European air travel. At that time, Pep Guardiola`s Barcelona team, unable to fly to Milan for the first leg, had to undertake a challenging two-day, 1000 km bus journey with an overnight stop. The article will cover key storylines, viewing information, and more.
How to Watch FC Barcelona vs. Inter Milan
- Date: Wednesday, April 30 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain
- Live stream: Paramount+
- Odds: FC Barcelona -165; Draw +300; Inter Milan +425
Recent Encounters
The most recent meetings between these two sides occurred during the 2022-23 Champions League group stage, the same season Inter reached the final in Istanbul. Inter secured a 1-0 victory at San Siro on Matchday 3 with a late first-half goal from Hakan Çalhanoğlu. The return fixture at the Camp Nou was a thrilling 3-3 draw. Ousmane Dembélé opened the scoring for Barça before Nicolo Barella and Lautaro Martinez put Inter ahead. Robert Lewandowski equalized in the 82nd minute, but Robin Gosens seemingly won it for Inter in the 89th. However, Lewandowski found a second equalizer two minutes into stoppage time. This was Inter`s first time avoiding defeat at Barcelona in six attempts and their only goals in their last five visits. Notably, their previous Champions League knockout tie was the 2010 semifinal.
Path to the Semifinals
Barcelona had a strong showing in the league phase, finishing second in their group with 19 points (six wins, one draw against Atalanta, one defeat). En route to the semifinals, Hansi Flick`s side defeated Benfica 4-1 on aggregate in the Round of 16 before overcoming Borussia Dortmund in the quarterfinals. Inter also had a successful group stage, finishing fourth with six wins, one draw, and just one defeat away at Bayer Leverkusen. In the knockout rounds, Inter first beat Feyenoord after the Dutch side eliminated AC Milan in the playoffs, and then knocked out German giants Bayern Munich 4-3 on aggregate in the quarterfinals.
Predicted Starting Lineups
- FC Barcelona XI: Wojciech Szczesny, Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Pedri, Gavi, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Raphinha, Ferran Torres.
- Inter Milan XI: Yann Sommer; Yann Bisseck, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni; Denzel Dumfries, Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrix Mkhitaryan, Federico Dimarco; Lautaro Martinez, Marko Arnautovic.
Key Player: Raphinha (FC Barcelona)
The Brazilian winger has been in exceptional form this season, scoring 30 goals in 50 appearances across all competitions. He has become a crucial player under Hansi Flick at Barcelona. If Barcelona succeeds in winning the Champions League, and potentially the treble, Raphinha could emerge as a strong contender for the Ballon d`Or award later this year.
Injury Concerns
Both teams are dealing with significant injury issues. The home side, Barcelona, will be without Alejandro Balde and, notably, former Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, though Lewandowski is expected back for the second leg in Milan. Inter welcomes back Denzel Dumfries and Piotr Zielinski. Marcus Thuram trained on Tuesday and will travel, but his place in the starting XI is uncertain. French defender Benjamin Pavard is unavailable for Wednesday`s match after sustaining an injury in Sunday`s 1-0 home loss to AS Roma.
Match Prediction
Inter Milan is currently going through a challenging period, which could benefit FC Barcelona. However, it won`t be an easy task for Flick`s side, especially considering they will need to travel to Milan for the second leg next week to secure their spot in the final.
Pick: Barcelona 2, Inter Milan 1.
