Barcelona vs Inter Milan LIVE commentary: Copa del Rey winners face injury-hit Italian giants in Champions League semi-final
Barcelona host Inter Milan in the Champions League this week in a semi-final blockbuster, live on talkSPORT. Hansi Flick‘s side were crowned the Copa del Rey champions over the weekend after a 3-2 win over Real Madrid, but they are eyeing a treble. It was glory for Barcelona against their bitter rivalsGetty The LaLiga giants are on course to claim the league title and are into the last four of the Champions League. Standing in their way of the final in Munich are the best defence in the Champions League this season. Inter Milan have only conceded five goals across the whole competition, and Simone Inzaghi has created a team that is tactically capable of taking on anyone. They managed to see off Harry Kane and Bayern Munich in the last round and will feel they can make the showpiece final. Barcelona vs Inter Milan: A boy from Leeds When Barcelona picked up Raphinha from Leeds United, it is hard to imagine that anyone thought he would be in contention for the Ballon d’Or a few years later. Now, that isn’t because the Brazilian didn’t impress at Elland Road, it’s just he never displayed this type of form. He has been that good in the Champions League this year that he has already equalled Lionel Messi‘s best-ever season in UEFA’s premier competition. Messi achieved 19 goals and assists during the 2011/12 season, and Raphinha still has a minimum of two more games to beat it. The winger also has Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski alongside him, so it’s arguably the best front three in world football right now, but Raphinha is the standout. Raphinha has achieved new levels this seasonGetty Barcelona and Internazionale have faced each other on 16 previous occasions in Europe, with the Spanish side winning exactly half of those (W8 D5 L3). They are winless in the most recent two, however, which came in the group stages of the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League (0-1 away, 3-3 at home). This will be just the second time Barcelona and Internazionale have met in the knockout stages of the European Cup/UEFA Champions League, with both coming precisely at the semi-final stage. The previous one – played in 2009-10 – saw José Mourinho’s Inter eliminate the reigning champions 3-2 on aggregate (3-1 at the Giuseppe Meazza, 0-1 at the Camp Nou). Barcelona are unbeaten in their six home games against Internazionale in the UEFA Champions League (W5 D1). Those five home wins against them are their joint-most against an opponent in UEFA Champions League/European Cup (also five v AC Milan), while the only team they’ve hosted more often in the competition without losing is Chelsea (7). Barcelona vs Inter Milan: Team news The hosts are set to be without star man Lewandowski, who has a hamstring injury and is a doubt for the second leg. Alejandro Balde has also been absent recently, but Flick will hope to have the left-back available. Marc-Andre ter Stegen is also finally fit after a long-term absence, but it remains unclear if he’ll displace Wojciech Szczesny. Meanwhile, the visitors are sweating over the fitness of a number of key players. Marcus Thuram has missed the last three matches and faces a late fitness test on a thigh problem. Piotr Zielinski and Denzel Dumfries returned at the weekend, but it remains to be seen if they are fully fit. Should Marcus Thuram not be fit, Lisandro Martinez would be left without his favoured strike partnerGetty Barcelona haven’t lost any of their six home matches in the UEFA Champions League this season (W5 D1), while scoring 21 goals in the process. Only in the 1999/2000 edition have they ever netted more at home in a single European Cup/UEFA Champions League campaign (29 in eight games). Barcelona are averaging 3.1 goals per game under Hansi Flick in the UEFA Champions League; the second-most by a manager-club duo with 10+ games, after Hansi Flick’s Bayern Munich (3.2). Meanwhile, Internazionale could equal the record for most clean sheets by an Italian team in a Champions League campaign (currently on eight), held by AC Milan in 2004-05 and Juventus in 2016-17 (both 9). Internazionale manager Simone Inzaghi is set to take charge of his 50th UEFA Champions League match here, becoming the seventh Italian coach to reach this milestone; the most for any nation (currently level with Spain on six). His 26 wins are already the most by an Italian manager through their first 50 Champions League matches (one ahead of Marcello Lippi, 25). Barcelona vs Inter Milan: What has been said? After claiming Copa del Rey glory, Flick is targeting the treble. He said: “There are two games left to reach the point of winning the Champions League, but today was fantastic. “It was a great atmosphere. “I’m very happy to be able to celebrate a huge victory against Real Madrid with my team, and it gives us confidence to go on and win more.” Ahead of his 25th app
Barcelona host Inter Milan in the Champions League this week in a semi-final blockbuster, live on talkSPORT.
Hansi Flick‘s side were crowned the Copa del Rey champions over the weekend after a 3-2 win over Real Madrid, but they are eyeing a treble.
The LaLiga giants are on course to claim the league title and are into the last four of the Champions League.
Standing in their way of the final in Munich are the best defence in the Champions League this season.
Inter Milan have only conceded five goals across the whole competition, and Simone Inzaghi has created a team that is tactically capable of taking on anyone.
They managed to see off Harry Kane and Bayern Munich in the last round and will feel they can make the showpiece final.
Barcelona vs Inter Milan: A boy from Leeds
When Barcelona picked up Raphinha from Leeds United, it is hard to imagine that anyone thought he would be in contention for the Ballon d’Or a few years later.
Now, that isn’t because the Brazilian didn’t impress at Elland Road, it’s just he never displayed this type of form.
He has been that good in the Champions League this year that he has already equalled Lionel Messi‘s best-ever season in UEFA’s premier competition.
Messi achieved 19 goals and assists during the 2011/12 season, and Raphinha still has a minimum of two more games to beat it.
The winger also has Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski alongside him, so it’s arguably the best front three in world football right now, but Raphinha is the standout.
- Barcelona and Internazionale have faced each other on 16 previous occasions in Europe, with the Spanish side winning exactly half of those (W8 D5 L3). They are winless in the most recent two, however, which came in the group stages of the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League (0-1 away, 3-3 at home).
- This will be just the second time Barcelona and Internazionale have met in the knockout stages of the European Cup/UEFA Champions League, with both coming precisely at the semi-final stage. The previous one – played in 2009-10 – saw José Mourinho’s Inter eliminate the reigning champions 3-2 on aggregate (3-1 at the Giuseppe Meazza, 0-1 at the Camp Nou).
- Barcelona are unbeaten in their six home games against Internazionale in the UEFA Champions League (W5 D1). Those five home wins against them are their joint-most against an opponent in UEFA Champions League/European Cup (also five v AC Milan), while the only team they’ve hosted more often in the competition without losing is Chelsea (7).
Barcelona vs Inter Milan: Team news
The hosts are set to be without star man Lewandowski, who has a hamstring injury and is a doubt for the second leg.
Alejandro Balde has also been absent recently, but Flick will hope to have the left-back available.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen is also finally fit after a long-term absence, but it remains unclear if he’ll displace Wojciech Szczesny.
Meanwhile, the visitors are sweating over the fitness of a number of key players.
Marcus Thuram has missed the last three matches and faces a late fitness test on a thigh problem.
Piotr Zielinski and Denzel Dumfries returned at the weekend, but it remains to be seen if they are fully fit.
- Barcelona haven’t lost any of their six home matches in the UEFA Champions League this season (W5 D1), while scoring 21 goals in the process. Only in the 1999/2000 edition have they ever netted more at home in a single European Cup/UEFA Champions League campaign (29 in eight games).
- Barcelona are averaging 3.1 goals per game under Hansi Flick in the UEFA Champions League; the second-most by a manager-club duo with 10+ games, after Hansi Flick’s Bayern Munich (3.2). Meanwhile, Internazionale could equal the record for most clean sheets by an Italian team in a Champions League campaign (currently on eight), held by AC Milan in 2004-05 and Juventus in 2016-17 (both 9).
- Internazionale manager Simone Inzaghi is set to take charge of his 50th UEFA Champions League match here, becoming the seventh Italian coach to reach this milestone; the most for any nation (currently level with Spain on six). His 26 wins are already the most by an Italian manager through their first 50 Champions League matches (one ahead of Marcello Lippi, 25).
Barcelona vs Inter Milan: What has been said?
After claiming Copa del Rey glory, Flick is targeting the treble.
He said: “There are two games left to reach the point of winning the Champions League, but today was fantastic.
“It was a great atmosphere.
“I’m very happy to be able to celebrate a huge victory against Real Madrid with my team, and it gives us confidence to go on and win more.”
- Ahead of his 25th appearance, Barcelona’s Raphinha has been directly involved in 26 goals in the UEFA Champions League to date (15 goals, 11 assists in 24 appearances). Only two players in the competition’s history have more goal contributions through their first 25 games: Erling Haaland (36) and Luis Suárez (28).
- Lautaro Martínez has scored in each of his last five appearances for Internazionale in the UEFA Champions League. If he finds the net here, he’ll be just the second South American player to score in six consecutive outings in the competition, after Edinson Cavani (seven between November 2016 and October 2017).
- Barcelona wingers Lamine Yamal and Raphinha have combined for more goals than any other duo in the UEFA Champions League this season (five – two Yamal assists, three Raphinha assists), while they’ve also created the most chances between one another of any teammate pairing (16 – eight each).
- Internazionale’s Nicolò Barella has averaged more progressive passes per 90 (7.1) than any other player in the UEFA Champions League this season (min. 500 minutes played). Similarly, he has the highest progressive pass percentage of any central midfielder in the competition this term (12% – also min. 500 minutes).
Barcelona vs Inter Milan: Date and how to follow
This Champions League semi-final first leg is set to take place on Wednesday, April 30.
Kick-off at the Estadio Olimpic Lluis Companys is set for 8pm UK time.
talkSPORT will have live coverage of the match, with Hugh Woozencroft serving as your presenter.
Commentary will then come from Joe Shennan and former Chelsea defender Scott Minto.
To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
talkSPORT.com will also have regular updates and all the reaction.
