Inter vs Barcelona Tips & Predictions
The stage is set for another pulsating clash between Inter and Barcelona as the two teams square off in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final showdown at the San Siro on Tuesday night.
- Inter vs Barcelona Tips & Predictions
- Head To Head
- Inter Form
- Inter Team News
- Barcelona Form
- Barcelona Team News
After playing out an instant classic in the first leg last week, Inter and Barcelona renew hostilities in a bid to reach the Champions League final. Inter are looking to make just their third Champions League showpiece, while Barcelona haven't featured in the final of club football's premier competition since 2015.
I'm backing Barcelona to get the job done in Milan. Hansi Flick's side dominated the 3-3 first leg clash, leading the shot count 19-7 and enjoying 70 per cent of possession. Inter's only three shots on target resulted in goals, including a somewhat fortuitous flick from Marcus Thuram within 30 seconds. Barcelona have won 24 of their last 30 games in all competitions, including nine of their last 10 on the road, with their only defeat in that period coming against Dortmund, where they were already leading that UCL tie comfortably.
Inter have managed just one win in their last six games in all competitions, while both teams should be well-rested after rotating heavily at the weekend, where Inter and Barcelona both secured crucial wins in their respective title races. I'm taking Barcelona to win inside 90 minutes and the Spanish giants keeping a clean sheet represents decent value given Inter's lack of real chances created in the first leg - and the fact star striker Lautaro Martinez is likely to miss the game through injury.
- Barcelona have won 24 of their last 30 games
- Inter have won just one of their last six games
- Barcelona have won nine of their last 10 away games
- Inter have lost three of their last five games without scoring
- Two of those three defeats were by a 1-0 score
- Two of Barcelona's last four away wins were by a 1-0 score
- Ferran Torres has scored 19 goals in just 17 starts for Barcelona this season
- Ferran Torres is averaging a goal every 92 minutes this season
Head To Head
Inter have only won one of the last eight meetings between the teams, while the last two have ended in 3-3 classics. Inter overcame Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate back in 2010, going on to beat Bayern for the Champions League trophy a few weeks later.
Inter Form
It's been a difficult period for Inter, who have won just three of their last 10 games and entered last week's first leg on a three-game losing streak.
However, Inter got off to the perfect start on the road, with Marcus Thuram's flick strike within 30 seconds giving them an early lead. Denzel Dumfries also secured an unlikely double, with Inter ultimately happy to sit back and take a draw back to the San Siro.
Simone Inzaghi's side had conceded just five goals and kept eight clean sheets on their way to the Champions League semi-finals, but came undone against Barcelona's star-studded attack.
In saying that, Inter will be confident of prevailing and progressing - they're unbeaten in their last 15 Champions League games at the San Siro, winning 12.
Inter Team News
Top scorer Lautaro Martinez injured his hamstring in the first leg and is a major doubt to take his place in the squad here.
Mehdi Taremi or Marko Arnautovic are a chance to lead the line, while Benjamin Pavard is also in some doubt.
Hakan Calhanoglu is back after serving his suspension in Inter's 1-0 win over Verona over the weekend, which snapped a five-game winless run.
Barcelona Form
It's been an incredible season for Barcelona and the Quadruple dream is well and truly on.
Having already secured the Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey trophies, Barcelona are currently leading Real Madrid by four points in La Liga (after coming from behind to edge out Valladolid 2-1 this past weekend) and obviously are within striking distance in the Champions League. Not even the famous Barcelona treble winning teams from 2009 and 2015 managed four trophies in a single season.
Barcelona have now won 24 of their last 30 matches and their electric attack is lighting up the Champions League. Lamine Yamal scored another ridiculous goal in the first leg, with the 17-year-old making it five strikes in the Champions League this season - only Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Raul have scored more in a single season in the competition.
Raphinha is also on track to break Champions League records - the Brazilian has 20 goal contributions so far, with only Cristiano Ronaldo (21 in 2013-14) registering more.
All up, Barcelona have scored 40 goals in this season's Champions League, with Hansi Flick's side closing in on their own record of 45, set back in the 1999-2000 competition.
Barcelona Team News
Robert Lewandowski could return on the bench, with Ferran Torres doing a tremendous job up front in his absence.
Fullbacks Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde once again are sidelined through injury, while Wojciech Szczesny should be back in goals after Marc-Andre ter Stegen made his own return this past weekend in La Liga.