Barcelona coach Hansi Flick reminded his team not to underestimate the strength of Inter Milan. The two teams will meet again in the second leg of the Champions League semifinals, Wednesday (7/5/2025) at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium.
This match will determine who will advance to the final. After drawing 3-3 in the first leg, both teams are certain to play their best for a ticket to the final.
Flick emphasized the importance of anticipating Inter’s strength. He said the Italian representatives were very dangerous in defense and when making transitions.
“Everyone wants to reach the final,” said Flick. “Inter are strong in defense and transitions. It’s important not to give them space in midfield and at the back.”
Inter Milan underwent their final training session at Appiano Gentile on Monday. Good news came from Lautaro Martinez who took part in full training with the team.
The Argentine striker will most likely appear from the start. However, Inter may lose Benjamin Pavard who is still suffering from an ankle injury.
On the opposing side, Barcelona had time to test the San Siro grass as a final preparation. Their focus is on maintaining consistency and dampening the home side’s aggression.
Lamine Yamal is again in the spotlight ahead of this crucial match. The 17-year-old was in brilliant form when he made a vital contribution in last week’s draw.
“The team is the most important thing. There are a lot of great players, and Yamal is a genius,” Flick praised. “He helped us on Wednesday, but he has to prove it in every game.”
Flick expects all players to perform at the highest level. He believes the best performance is needed to be able to eliminate Inter and advance to the final.
“We want to reach the final; hopefully, everyone will be at the highest level,” he said.
One of the latest news that strengthens Barcelona is the return of Robert Lewandowski. The Polish striker was absent from the first leg due to injury.
Simone Inzaghi acknowledged the quality of Robert Lewandowski who has now recovered. He considered the striker as one of the best strikers in the world today.
“We know him well. I consider him one of the three or four best strikers in the world,” said Inzaghi. “But we also saw how Ferran Torres performed in the first leg.”
Barcelona scored 15 goals in the first few matches of the Champions League this season without Lewandowski. This fact shows the depth of the squad and the effectiveness of their front line.
In addition to Lewandowski, Inzaghi also discussed the absence of Jules Kounde in the second leg. He acknowledged Kounde as a very good player. Inzaghi said that Kounde might be tired because he has played in many matches.
Inzaghi read that Kounde has played 102 or 104 matches in a row. “He’s a very good player, but maybe that’s the price of a busy schedule,” Inzaghi said. “I read that he played 102 or 104 games in a row.”
While Kounde’s absence could be an advantage for Inter, Inzaghi stressed the importance of being alert. Barcelona are still a strong team and have a lot of quality players in all positions. Inter must remain alert and play with the right strategy.
