Barcelona, Inter to fight through fatigue in CL semis

FC Barcelona plays Inter Milan on Wednesday night in a Champions League semifinal first leg tie that promises to be a duel between two tired sides.

Barca goes into the game after a dramatic 3-2 win over bitter rival Real Madrid in Saturday's Copa del Rey final, with Jules Kounde scoring an extra-time winner.

Roma's Angelino (R) vies with Inter Milan's Denzel Dumfries during a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Roma in Milan, Italy, April 27, 2025. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)

The title, and how it was won, will be a huge boost to Barca's morale, but the fact that the players had to endure extra time in a match that didn't finish until 1 a.m. also presents challenges to coach Hansi Flick.

Key players such as Kounde, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Frenkie de Jong and Inigo Martinez all played over 100 minutes on Saturday, with most playing all 120 minutes.

Meanwhile, injuries to Alejandro Balde and Robert Lewandowski rob Barca of two key players and the ability to rotate its starting 11.

Balde should be available for the return leg, but Lewandowski's hamstring injury is likely to keep the top scorer out of both matches.

That means Flick may have to continue with Ferran Torres in attack, or he could consider playing either Gavi or Ferran Lopez as a false nine alongside Raphinha and Yamal.

Gerard Martin will continue at left-back, although Martinez could move across if Flick wants to freshen up his defense with Ronald Araujo alongside Pau Cubarsi in the back four.

De Jong and Pedri will start in midfield despite Saturday's exertions, with Eric Garcia available to provide cover when tiredness sets in.

Inter's players are also looking tired as they travel to Montjuic, as a late-season drop in form threatens to derail the Nerazzuri's campaign.

Since reaching the Champions League semis in Europe, Simone Inzaghi's side has lost three consecutive games and failed to score a goal. Those results saw it crash out of the Coppa Italia against local rival AC Milan, while Sunday's 1-0 defeat to Roma saw Napoli open up a three-point lead at the top of Serie A.

Inzaghi also has injury problems, with Benjamin Pavard and Marcos Thuram doubtful.