Inter Milan XI vs Barcelona: Predicted lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Champions League semi-final
Inter Milan have suffered some poorly-timed injuries ahead of Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg against Barcelona.
Benjamin Pavard is set to miss the tie after suffering a sprained ankle in last weekend's loss to Roma. He had played the most Champions League minutes of any outfielder in Simone Inzaghi's squad and scored what proved to be the winning goal as Inter edged Bayern Munich 4-3 on aggregate in the quarter-finals.
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Called upon to deputise will be Stefan de Vrij, who has also been responsible for some important Inter goals this season, equalising late against AC Milan to scrape a point from the Derby della Madonnina.
The 33-year-old's closest competition for the starting spot is Yann Bisseck, though Inzaghi would likely prefer De Vrij's experience to Bisseck's youth. The German is nine years De Vrij's junior and has made ten appearances in Europe this year, five of which were off the bench.
Pavard's injury leaves Inzaghi a tricky selection decision (AP)
While there are Fresh injuries for Inter, there are also returnees. Marcus Thuram is again available for selection, having missed three matches with an adductor problem. It is telling that Inter lost all three of the matches Thuram missed without scoring a goal - he will likely slot straight back into the lineup.
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Alessandro Bastoni and former Arsenal man Henrikh Mykhitaryan will both be available, their domestic bans not extending to the Champions League, while Denzel Dumfries will also be available for selection for the first time since late March, having recovered from a hamstring issue. Having been sidelined for more than four weeks, though, he will not be a likely starter on Wednesday.
Predicted Inter Milan XI (3-5-2): Sommer; De Vrij, Acerbi, Augusto; Darmian, Frattesi, Calhanoglu, Barella, Dimarco; Martinez, Thuram
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 8:00pm GMT
TV channel: TNT Sports 1
Venue: Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium
Referee: Clement Turpin
Injured: Pavard
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