Barcelona and Inter clash in UEFA Champions League semi-final

FC Barcelona is set to face Inter Milan today at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final. The match kicks off at 8 p.m. Moroccan time (GMT+1) and will be broadcast live on BeIN Sports 1 MENA, BeIN Sports 1 English, Canal+ Foot, and M+ Liga de Campeones.

Barcelona arrives in formidable form, coming off a thrilling 3-2 victory against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final. This triumph marked their second trophy of the season, keeping their hopes for a treble alive. Currently, Barcelona leads La Liga, sitting four points ahead of Real Madrid with five matches remaining.

Inter Milan, on the other hand, enters the semi-finals amidst challenges. They narrowly advanced past Bayern Munich in the previous round, winning 4-3 on aggregate. However, they have recently faced setbacks, including elimination from the Coppa Italia and dropping crucial points in Serie A, where they currently sit second, trailing Napoli by three points.

In a pre-match press conference, Barcelona's coach, Hansi Flick, acknowledged Inter's strong defensive capabilities. “Inter will be very difficult; they are among the best defenders in Europe,” he stated. Flick emphasized the necessity for his team to be fully prepared, given the match's significance.

Despite the pressure, Inter’s coach, Simone Inzaghi, remains optimistic. “We come from a bad week, but we can do and we have to do better,” he asserted, expressing excitement about facing one of the world’s top teams. Inzaghi underscored the respect they have for Barcelona but emphasized their determination to perform.

Inter is expected to start with Lautaro Martinez leading the attack, although Marcus Thuram's participation remains uncertain due to injury. The midfield trio of Hakan Calhanoglu, Nicolo Barella, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan will be vital in disrupting Barcelona’s fluid passing game.

With both teams aiming for a place in the Champions League final, the stakes are high. Barcelona has not reached the final in a decade, while Inter narrowly lost last season’s final to Manchester City. The anticipation builds as these two storied clubs prepare to battle for glory.

Predicted lineups:

Barcelona: Szczesny – Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Martin – De Jong, Pedri – Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha – Torres

Inter: Sommer – De Vrij, Acerbi, Augusto – Darmian, Frattesi, Calhanoglu, Barella, Dimarco – Martinez, Thuram

Head-to-head:
The teams have met 12 times previously, with Barcelona winning 6 matches, Inter Milan winning 2, and 4 matches ending in draws.

Score prediction:
Barcelona is favored to win, leveraging their recent form and home advantage. A tight contest is expected, but the Catalans are anticipated to emerge victorious with a score of 3-1.