New Delhi: The newly crowned Spanish Cup champions will face the first of two wars for a spot in the Champions League final as they host Inter Milan for the first leg of the semifinal tonight at 12:30 am. Barca will come into the match with full confidence after claiming an epic extra-time win in El Clasico to take the first step towards a third men’s Treble in club history.
Barca are having a great season under the new German manager, Hansi Flick. They have gone deep in every tournament, finishing second behind Liverpool in the new league phase before beating Benfica in the last 16. Following a decisive 4-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in the quarter finals, the stage where they have lost five times to progress, but this time they managed to pass the test on an aggregate score of 5-3.
On the way, the Catalan club have won five and drawn just one of their six home fixtures while racking up 21 goals. They further added three in the Copa del Rey final. Jules Kounde’s goal in the 116th minute secured a record 32nd domestic cup triumph for Barca.
Barcelona OR Inter ❓#UCL pic.twitter.com/MgQ48Zku8N
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 30, 2025
Meanwhile, Inter Milan saw their Serie A aspiration dealt a heavy blow when they were defeated 1-0 by AS Roma at home. Matias Soule broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute, which later turned out ot be the deciding goal of the match.
Nerazzurri have now shifted their attention to the continent, having booked their spot in the last four with a 4-3 aggregate victory over Bayern Munich in the quarter-final. They have also gone deep in every competition this season but fell short in the last crucial stages. Simone Inzaghi have done a brilliant job with the squad, but even he admits that he is worried about his team as they arrive on a three-game losing streak to face Barca.
Will Barcelona inch closer to claiming the third piece of a potential quadruple, or will the ‘dark horses’ disrupt their momentum and seize control? But before the action kicks off, let’s take a look at which team holds the upper hand over the other.
Team News
Barcelona will head into the match without their star striker, Robert Lewandowski, whose hamstring issue continues to sideline him and may even rule him out of next week’s return leg. There is hope, however, that left-back Alejandro Balde could return to action after injury, although if he fails to prove his fitness, Gerard Martin is expected to continue in the role. The defensive quartet is likely to feature Inigo Martinez, Jules Kounde and Pau Cubarsi.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen is available again after a long injury layoff, though Wojciech Szczesny is expected to retain his place in goal. Further up the pitch, Ferran Torres is set to lead the line, flanked by the dynamic duo of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, who have not only scored five Champions League goals between them but also created 16 chances for one another.
On the other hand, Inter will look to Lautaro Martinez to lead their attack, as the Argentine has scored in five consecutive Champions League matches. Marcus Thuram is pushing for a return after missing three games with a thigh problem and could play a part. Alessandro Bastoni and Henrikh Mkhitaryan return from domestic bans, while Benjamin Pavard remains a doubt due to an ankle injury.
Head-to-head
Barcelona and Inter Milan have met 16 times in European competition, with the Catalan side holding the upper hand, winning eight and losing just three. Their last encounter came in October 2022 during the Champions League group stage, ending in a thrilling 3-3 draw. Inter’s struggles in Spain continue to linger as they remain winless in their last 10 visits, suffering three defeats during that stretch.
Barcelona are in imperious form across all competitions, having won 22 of their last 28 matches, with just one defeat in that span. Meanwhile, Inter will enter this tie on a strong run in Europe, unbeaten in their last six Champions League games, winning five of them.
Predicted lineup
Barcelona: Szczesny; Kounde, Cubarsí, Iñigo, Martín; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha; Ferran
Inter Milan: Sommer; Bisseck, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Çalhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Lautaro, Thuram
When, where, and how to watch the FC Barcelona vs Inter Milan match in India?
As Barcelona and Inter Milan are all set to lock horns at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys at 12:30 am, fans can enjoy the action on television on the Sony Network. Those who prefer to stream can catch the game live on SonyLiv.
Match prediction
Barcelona are strongly aiming to reach the Champions League final, a stage they haven’t graced since lifting their fifth European Cup back in 2015. As the current top scorers in the competition, they’ll be looking to channel the kind of magic seen during the memorable MSN era and are well-positioned to potentially achieve a historic treble this season. Adding an interesting historical layer, it was Inter who eliminated the Blaugrana at the Camp Nou on their path to claiming their third Champions League title.
This continental trophy now represents Inter’s only realistic chance for silverware this season, while Barca are currently riding high on confidence. Although the Nerazzurri are expected to put up a tough fight, it certainly seems like the Blaugrana will look to take advantage going into what should be a wild San Siro next Tuesday.
Final Scoreline: FC Barcelona 3-1 Inter Milan
FC Barcelona will host Inter Milan at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys tonight for the UEFA Champions League first leg semifinal fixture. But before the action kicks off, let’s examine which team has the upper hand over the other. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
