Inter Milan vs Barcelona
Back Inter to attack Barca at the San Siro
Inter will host Barcelona in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final following a pulsating first meeting six days ago. It’s advantage Inter, who managed to escape the Nou Camp with a 2-2 draw and they will fancy their chances of finishing the job at the San Siro on Tuesday night.
As expected, both teams put out heavily rotated XIs at the weekend as they intended to keep many of their first-choice players fresh and fit for this crucial tie. Inter had the simple task of beating Hellas Verona under assistant coach Massimiliano Farris, whereas Barcelona had to do it the hard way as they came back from 2-1 down against Valladolid on the road.
Barca boss Hansi Flick was left frustrated by the situation, admitting that he didn’t want to introduce Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, although his hand was forced by a combination of injuries and below-par displays. Flick’s side will be missing Alejandro Balde and potentially Dani Rodriguez, who limped off at the weekend.
Questions surrounding the fitness of Inter’s talisman Lautaro Martinez remain unanswered, although there are suggestions that the club are quietly confident he will play some part in this fixture. Inter have been a potent force going forward this season in the UCL, notching twice here against Bayern and three times against Monaco. They took advantage of the Blaugrana’s defensive fragilities last week and with defensive injuries in their ranks, the La Liga outfit could be susceptible once again.
It’s worth backing them to notch at least a couple in this hotly-anticipated contest.
Jack’s football journey began in the early 2000s at Bloomfield Road, sparking a lifelong passion for the EFL and beyond. With over a decade of writing and tipping experience, he delivers sharp insights and value-driven betting advice across football, darts, tennis, and horse racing.
When he’s not analysing stats, Jack is on commentary duty for Stoke City and occasionally heard at Owlerton Greyhound Stadium. Based in Leeds, he’s as reliable with a brew as he is with a bet.