Inter Milan vs. Barcelona: Champions League Semi-Final Decider at San Siro

Match Preview: Inter Milan vs. FC Barcelona

Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Kick-off Time: 21:00 CET (22:00 Riyadh time)
Venue: San Siro Stadium, Milan, Italy
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland)
VAR: Dennis Johan Higler (Netherlands)

 

 

First Leg Recap:

The first leg at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys ended in a 3-3 draw. Inter Milan took an early lead with Marcus Thuram scoring the fastest goal in a Champions League semi-final at 30 seconds. Denzel Dumfries added two goals, while Barcelona responded with goals from Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, and a late equalizer by Raphinha. 

Team News:

Inter Milan:

• Captain Lautaro Martínez is a doubt due to a hamstring injury sustained in the first leg. His availability will be determined closer to kick-off. 

• Defender Benjamin Pavard is also uncertain, with his fitness being assessed. 

• If Martínez is unavailable, Mehdi Taremi or Marko Arnautović may partner with Thuram in attack.

FC Barcelona:

• Goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen and defenders Alejandro Balde and Jules Koundé are sidelined due to injuries. 

• Lamine Yamal continues to impress, becoming the youngest goalscorer in a Champions League semi-final. 

Predicted Lineups:

 

 

Inter Milan (3-5-2):

Sommer; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Çalhanoğlu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martínez (or Taremi/Arnautović)

 

 

FC Barcelona (4-3-3):

Peña; Cancelo, Araujo, Christensen, Martínez; De Jong, Gündoğan, Pedri; Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha

Head-to-Head:

• Total Meetings: 17

• Inter Wins: 2

• Barcelona Wins: 6

• Draws: 5

Barcelona has struggled in recent visits to Italy, with only one win in their last six matches against Inter. 

Win Probability:

According to Opta's supercomputer:

• Barcelona Win: 42.7%

• Inter Win: 33%

• Draw: 24.3%

Barcelona has a 56% chance of progressing to the final, while Inter stands at 44%. 

Broadcast Information:

• United Kingdom: Amazon Prime Video

• United States: Paramount+, CBS, TUDN

• Canada: DAZN

• Spain: Movistar

• Italy: Amazon Prime Video

Conclusion:

The stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to this Champions League semi-final. Inter Milan will rely on their formidable home record and tactical discipline, while Barcelona's youthful exuberance and attacking prowess, spearheaded by Lamine Yamal, aim to secure a place in the final. With both teams evenly matched, fans worldwide anticipate a captivating encounter at San Siro.