Inter Milan`s star striker, Lautaro Martinez, is expected to miss the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final against FC Barcelona in Milan on Tuesday. The first leg in Barcelona ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw. Inter remains hopeful that their captain might recover in time to be included in the squad, but Martinez suffered a muscular injury in the first leg, forcing coach Simone Inzaghi to substitute him at halftime. Reports indicate Lautaro is determined to be fit for the crucial home tie, but should he be unavailable, here are the potential options for Coach Inzaghi to address his absence.
The Italian club provided an update on his condition on Friday, stating: “Lautaro Martinez underwent various clinical and instrumental examinations this morning… It was found that the Argentine forward has an elongation of the flexor muscles in his left thigh. His conditions will continue to be reviewed day by day.”
Potential Replacements for Lautaro
Lautaro Martinez, who has been a standout performer for Inter this season with 21 goals in 47 appearances across all competitions, would leave a significant void. His potential absence complicates things for Inzaghi, especially with fellow striker Marcus Thuram only recently returning from his own muscular injury before the first leg. If Martinez is unable to play, the most probable replacement in the starting lineup is former FC Porto player Mehdi Taremi, who came on for Lautaro in the second half in Barcelona. Taremi`s debut season for Inter since joining on a free transfer in summer 2024 has been underwhelming numerically, with only three goals scored so far. However, his contribution in the second half of the first leg was promising, demonstrating his potential value to the team. With Joaquin Correa not included in the Champions League squad, Marko Arnautovic is the only other traditional striking option to partner Thuram upfront. Some analysts have speculated that Inzaghi might consider deploying midfielder Davide Frattesi in a more advanced role behind Thuram, suggesting a shift to a more defensive setup. However, given Inzaghi`s consistent use of the 3-5-2 formation throughout his four seasons at Inter, a significant tactical change for the season`s most critical match seems highly improbable.
