As the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final approaches, Barcelona is filled with a sense of calm while Inter Milan is feeling anxious.
Inter Milan has a sizeable obstacle to overcome that could impede their final preparations, with their hopes resting on a remote possibility.
Meanwhile, Barcelona’s manager, Hansi Flick, has kept the team focused and has not let things happen outside their control divert their tactical plan.
It is just days before the fixture, and while the club has issued its medical updates, the reports have been vague, leading to conjecture generated by the Italian media, which stated the player would need a “miracle” to recover in time for the match, according to Mundo Deportivo.
This uncertainty seems to be a tactical component to make Barcelona guess, but it also demonstrates how reliant Inter is on this player and without him it would cripple their attacking threat.
The player we refer to is Lautaro Martinez, Inter’s star forward, who aggravated a thigh injury in the first leg at Montjuic.
In Inter’s medical report, it stated elongated left thigh flexor muscles and that he would be evaluated daily, leaving their availability status very much in question.
It is clear that with Martinez, Inter Milan have their number one goal-scoring threat and focal point of their attack.
If Martinez does not play, Inter Milan will have lost their main attacking threat – something that Barcelona will be looking to exploit.
Flick has instructed his team to be ready for Inter, with or without Martinez, as they focus on controlling the game in midfield and clinical finishing.
As Inter continue to hope for a miracle, Flick’s men will be determined to do the job with professionalism and precision to secure a place in the final.
Want to get the latest Barcelona news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.
