Inter - Barcelona: Bad news for Pavard and Inter

Who, Inter or FC Barcelona, ​​will be the first club to qualify for the 2024-2025 Champions League final? The answer will be known this Tuesday evening after the return leg between the two clubs, a week after a superb first leg (3-3) that allowed neither to take an advantage heading into the second leg. Both Inter and Barça will need a victory tonight, unless qualification is decided in a penalty shootout, in the event of a draw after 120 minutes.

Despite clear dominance, Barcelona failed to win last Wednesday's semi-final first leg. Inter even had the upper hand twice in this encounter, first leading 2-0 and then 3-2... before the Catalans came back each time. It was a spectacular match marked by the talent of Lamine Yamal, the best player on the pitch despite not yet turning 18.

Decisive week for Barça

Spurred on by more than 70,000 spectators at the San Siro, Inter hope to prevent Barça from continuing their path to the looming quadruple. After winning the Spanish Super Cup and the Spanish Cup, Barça is experiencing its most important week of the year. The Catalans can qualify for their first Champions League final since 2015 this Tuesday and could virtually secure a 28th Spanish league title by winning the Clasico at home on Sunday against Kylian Mbappé's Real Madrid.

For their part, Inter hope to reach their second Champions League final in three seasons after losing 1-0 to Manchester City in 2023. But Simone Inzaghi's team seems to be struggling at the end of the season. Inter, whose third and last Champions League title dates back to the 2009-2010 season when they eliminated Barça in the semi-finals, barely overcame bottom-ranked Verona (1-0) last weekend. Three points behind Napoli, the reigning Italian champions no longer have their destiny in their own hands in Serie A. In the Champions League, this is still the case.

Inter's line-ups - Barcelona : Lewandowski and Lautaro uncertain, Pavard out

For Inter, Simone Inzaghi may have to decide at the last minute whether Lautaro Martinez will start the match. Injured in the first leg, the Argentine captain is scheduled to undergo a final test today to assess his fitness. However, there is no hope for Benjamin Pavard, who is definitely out due to a sprained ankle suffered ten days ago. He will be replaced by Bisseck, as he was in the Barcelona match.

Inter's probable starting lineup: Sommer - Bisseck, Acerbi, Bastoni - Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco - Thuram, Taremi (or L. Martinez).

For FC Barcelona, ​​Hansi Flick will be without his two starting full-backs. Alejandro Baldé is still recovering, while Jules Koundé was injured in last week's first leg. Araujo could step in as interim, unless Eric Garcia does. On the left, Gerard Martin is expected to play in place of Baldé again, unless Inigo Martinez is moved to the wing. Flick has several options. In midfield, Gavi could replace Dani Olmo.

Barcelona's probable starting XI : Szczesny - Araujo, Cubarsi, I. Martinez, G. Martin - Gavi, De Jong, Pedri - L. Yamal, F. Torres, Raphinha.

Time, channel, how to watch Inter - Barcelona live

This match between Inter and Barcelona will not be broadcast on French television, as it will only be visible on Canal+ Foot, for which a subscription is required. To follow this match on the Internet between the Italian club and the Catalan club from 9 p.m. this Tuesday, May 6, you will have to go to the Canal+ website .

For this Champions League semi-final second leg, FC Barcelona is the favorite for both victory and qualification by various sports betting sites. The odds for a Barcelona win range between 2 and 2.3, while those for an Inter victory at home are between 2.7 and 3. The odds for a draw are slightly lower than 4.