Barcelona head into Tuesday night’s Champions League decider knowing a draw won’t be enough if they want to restore European pride and silence critics after years of knockout frustration.
The first leg against Inter served up a classic, with six goals, end-to-end football and another coming-of-age moment for one of Barcelona’s brightest prospects.
Now with the return fixture on the horizon, Hansi Flick’s side must prepare for a more tactical and physical battle as Inter aim to shut down their most electric outlet.
Flick will demand composure and sharpness in possession, especially from his younger stars, with Italian press reporting that Inter have spent days fine-tuning a plan to limit Barca’s wide threats.
The spotlight, once again, falls on 17-year-old Lamine Yamal.
After tormenting Inter’s defence in the first leg, the teenager is now the subject of a very public warning from Simone Inzaghi.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the Inter boss admitted that containing Lamine Yamal would be near-impossible, and revealed plans to flood his zone with defenders in a bid to restrict his influence.
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“We have to try to keep the ball from getting to him, but it’s impossible,” Inzaghi said bluntly.
“He will obviously be double-marked, he’ll be a marked man, and we’ll try to pay close attention to him.
“Seeing him live, he’s an incredible talent, truly very dangerous — everyone gives him the ball.
“What impressed me was his speed of thought; he always knows what play to make.”
Inter centre-back Alessandro Bastoni echoed the praise but also hinted at what’s to come for the young Spaniard.
“He is the strongest I have ever played against,” Bastoni said via Di Marzio.
“I was impressed by the level he has reached — in terms of ability to create chances, he is the best.”
“How can we stop him? We will have to do as we did in the first leg, double and triple him.
“Barcelona is not just Yamal, they have an enviable attack.”
With the tie finely poised and the world watching, Yamal’s ability to navigate pressure and punishment could be the key to Barcelona’s Champions League hopes.
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