Inter Milan growing nervous ahead of Barcelona faceoff following cup defeat | OneFootball

Barcelona could not have asked for better timing. As Hansi Flick’s men gear up for their Champions League semi-final clash, Inter Milan, their opponent, are crumbling under pressure.

What once looked like an unstoppable march towards a historic treble has quickly unravelled for the Italian giants, and Barcelona now have a golden opportunity to capitalise.

In a matter of just four days, Inter have gone from being undisputed leaders of Serie A to being caught by Napoli, and have also been dumped out of the Coppa Italia by rivals AC Milan.

Consecutive defeats—first to Bologna in the league, and then to Milan in a derby—have severely dented both their form and their confidence. More importantly, the timing of their collapse could not be worse.

What is Inzaghi saying?

Inter boss Simone Inzaghi is feeling the heat. After the derby loss, he admitted his team is “touched” by recent events and openly discussed the fatigue that is setting in.

Inter Milan have lost consecutive games. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“We must not deny that we are tired,” Inzaghi said as quoted by SPORT, though he tried to avoid excuses by insisting they must push on with the backing of their fans. But the tone was telling.

And that is exactly where Barcelona can strike. While Inter are overwhelmed by a congested calendar, unable to rotate key players and visibly shaken by back-to-back setbacks, Flick’s Barcelona are hitting their stride.

The unity in the dressing room, the motivation from the club’s leadership, and the bold messages echoing through the Sports City walls all point to a team that is not just dreaming of the treble—they are seriously going for it.

Inter’s upcoming schedule only adds to their woes. After a gruelling league match against Roma, they must face Barça at Montjuic midweek, then take on Verona, and once again host Barça just days later at the San Siro.

With no room for rest or error, and legs growing heavier by the match, Inter look more vulnerable than ever.