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Three days after a gruelling 3-2 Copa del Rey victory over Real Madrid, Barcelona welcome Italian giants Inter Milan to the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys for the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final, with dreams of a historic treble still alive.

Fifteen years on from their iconic clash at this very stage, where Jose Mourinho’s Inter edged out Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate, the Catalans come into this tie full of belief. This is their first Champions League semi-final since the 2018-19 season, although they’ve been eliminated in five of their last six quarter-final appearances.

Inter Milan, meanwhile, are making their second Champions League semi-final appearance in three seasons, a testament to the experience and consistency instilled by manager Simone Inzaghi.

Three Things to Expect in Barcelona vs Inter Milan

1. A More Cautious, Defensive Inter Milan

Fatigue seems to be creeping into the Nerazzurri squad. A 3-0 Coppa Italia defeat to AC Milan, a shock home loss to Roma, and the end of a 13-game unbeaten run in Serie A at the hands of Bologna have seen Inter slip to second in the league.

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Simone Inzaghi has urged his players to dig deep, find renewed energy, and stay compact. Despite domestic setbacks, Inter remain a defensive powerhouse in Europe, conceding just 5 goals in 10 Champions League matches and keeping 8 clean sheets, more than any other side.

Expect a cagey approach as they try to contain a free-flowing Barcelona attack.

2. Barcelona Will Go All-Out in Attack

Under Hansi Flick, Barcelona have rediscovered their attacking DNA. Averaging 3.1 goals per match in the Champions League, just behind Flick’s own Bayern Munich (3.2), the Catalans are a threat every time they move forward.

They’ve scored a staggering 37 goals in 12 European games. Raphinha alone has 26 goal contributions in 24 matches.

Although Lewandowski is unavailable for this tie, Ferran Torres has stepped up impressively, scoring in the Copa del Rey win, and will join Lamine Yamal and Raphinha in the front three.

3. History Looms Large, But Could Be Deceptive

Barcelona and Inter Milan have met 16 times in European competitions, with Barça winning 8, drawing 5, and losing just 3. However, recent history suggests caution. In the 2022–23 group stage, Inter defeated Barcelona 1-0 at San Siro and drew 3-3 at Camp Nou, knocking the Catalans out.

Inter fans will fondly recall the 2009–10 semi-final triumph, where Mourinho’s men, led by the likes of Eto’o, Milito, and Chivu, stunned Pep Guardiola’s side en route to lifting the Champions League trophy.

But unlike that historic treble-winning season, Inter enter tonight’s clash without Scudetto ambitions and with far less pressure, making them a dangerous, unpredictable opponent.

Babajide Oluwaseun

Babajide is a broadcast Journalist with over 10 years experience on radio in Nigeria. He is addicted to the English Premier league analysing tactics and team formation and when he is done, he is on his pad writing his next piece on football.

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