Predicted Teams Barcelona-Inter: Major return for Simone Inzaghi and will Hansi Flick stick or twist? | OneFootball

Barcelona and Inter are back in the Champions League semi-final, a match up that replicates the historic 2010 clash between the two when Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho were in charge. The situation is vastly different now though, with Barcelona returning to the final four for the first time in six years, whereas Inter are aiming for a second final in three seasons.

How will Barcelona line up?

Hansi Flick is set to keep things the same according to Sport, as the Blaugrana come off the back of victory in the Copa del Rey final against rivals Real Madrid. Neither they nor MD are of the opinion that the Blaugrana will mix things up for the first leg, with Gerard Martin maintaining his spot, as is the case for Wojciech Szczesny, Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, all of whom played 120 minutes.

Image via Sport

The big question for many was whether Dani Olmo, who only played just over an hour against Los Blancos, would keep his spot. Some wondered whether Fermin Lopez would be given the nod to freshen things up, but Olmo appears to be the favourite, as per MD. Hansi Flick said before the match that he was happy with how his players looked, and also confirmed that Wojciech Szczesny would remain their goalkeeper in Europe this season, despite the return of Marc-Andre ter Stegen from injury.

How will Inter line up?

Simone Inzaghi said he was not concerned by a run of three straight defeats in the lead up to the match, but is expected to make at least four changes from the side that lost to Roma. Alessandro Bastoni and Hakan Calhanoglu were rested, and will replace Carlos Augusto and Davide Frattesi, while Denzel Dumfries will come back at right wing-back and Marcus Thuram is backed to partner Lautaro Martinez. The one point of debate between the two papers is whether Federico Dimarco is available for the clash, as he tries to make it back in time. Augusto is cited as his potential replacement.

Injury news for Barcelona and Inter Milan

Inter lost Benjamin Pavard to injury over the weekend, hence the starting spot for Yann Bisseck alongside Francesco Acerbi and Bastoni. Otherwise Inzaghi is working with a fully fit squad. Flick is without long-term absences Marc Casado and Marc Bernal, but has not managed to get Robert Lewandowski or Alejandro Balde back from muscle issues in time. There is hope that Pavard, Lewandowski and Balde could all make the second leg.