Date: Tuesday, 6 May 2025Venue: San Siro, MilanKick-off: 21:00 (local time)
As the Champions League semi-finals reach their critical stage, Inter Milan host Barcelona in a finely poised second leg at San Siro. After an exhilarating 3-3 draw in the first leg, all eyes now turn to Milan, where Inter will hope their exceptional home form can withstand the full force of Barcelona’s high-octane attack.
Form Guide and Tactical Set-Up
The first leg produced one of the most captivating matches of the season. Six goals, relentless tempo, and standout performances from some of Europe’s brightest attacking talents left fans in awe. Barcelona’s dynamic wide play and Inter’s quick transitions showcased two sides with contrasting yet equally effective approaches.
Despite being involved in a tight Serie A title race, Inter opted to rest key personnel over the weekend, fielding a rotated squad that still managed to earn a 1-0 win over Hellas Verona. Manager Simone Inzaghi will be hoping that decision pays dividends with fresh legs against the Catalan giants.
Barcelona, in contrast, were forced to dig deeper to overcome Real Valladolid. With their domestic title hopes still alive, Hansi Flick couldn’t afford to rest his core attackers entirely. Lamine Yamal, Frenkie de Jong, and Raphinha all featured, with the trio playing decisive roles in turning around an early deficit.
Injury Concerns and Player Availability
One of the biggest question marks heading into Tuesday’s clash revolves around the availability of Inter captain Lautaro Martínez. Substituted at half-time in the first leg with a muscle issue, his fitness remains uncertain. Inter will take confidence from the fact that they scored three goals in the first leg without any direct involvement from their talisman. Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfries stepped up, with Dumfries bagging a brace to keep the Nerazzurri in the tie.
On the other side, Barcelona are closely monitoring the status of Robert Lewandowski. The prolific forward has missed four consecutive matches due to a hamstring strain but is reportedly nearing a return. Whether Flick opts to start him or continue with Ferrán Torres remains to be seen. Torres has been in stellar form, boasting 19 goals across all competitions while averaging a strike every 92 minutes.
If there is one factor that strongly tilts this tie in Inter’s favour, it’s their formidable home record in Europe. The Nerazzurri are currently unbeaten in 15 Champions League matches at San Siro, a run that stretches back multiple seasons and includes some of Europe’s elite. Inzaghi’s men have also won nine of their last 11 European semi-finals played at home—a statistic that underlines just how difficult they are to beat on this stage.
Barcelona’s away record in Italy does little to inspire confidence. In 24 away Champions League games played on Italian soil, the Spanish giants have managed just five wins, equating to a 21% success rate—their lowest in any country where they’ve played 10 or more matches. Against Inter specifically, they have won only once in six previous trips.
That said, this season’s Barcelona side has brought new energy and unpredictability under Hansi Flick. They’ve netted 40 goals in the competition already—just five shy of the all-time single-season record held by their 1999-2000 squad. Much of that firepower has come through Raphinha, who’s been involved in 20 Champions League goals (12 goals, 8 assists) so far—just one behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s record tally of 21 contributions in a single campaign.
Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal continues to make waves. With five goals already in the competition, he joins elite company, with only Raúl, Haaland, and Mbappé having scored more in a single campaign as teenagers.
What to Expect
Given the attacking depth on both sides and the momentum from the first leg, another goal-fest cannot be ruled out. However, Inter’s defensive organisation at home combined with the tactical discipline instilled by Inzaghi could see a more measured approach. Barcelona, meanwhile, will rely heavily on the creativity and movement of their wide players to stretch Inter’s backline and create space in central areas.
The game may hinge on moments—set pieces, transition plays, or individual brilliance. With both teams capable of producing magic in the final third, it could go either way.
Prediction
Despite Inter’s impressive home form, Barcelona enter this leg as slight favourites to progress, with predictive models giving them a 56% chance of reaching the final. However, with San Siro set to be at full voice and Inter’s resilience at home well documented, it would be no surprise if the tie remains in the balance until the very last minute. Back the draw and both teams to score for extra value.