Champions League semi-finals
Inter and Barcelona will meet in the Champions League semi-finals after overcoming Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund respectively this week. It’s set to be a fascinating tie between the leaders of Italy and Spain’s top divisions, but Bastoni has admitted he will have a hard time keeping Spanish wonderkid Lamine Yamal quiet over two legs.
First Leg: April 30, 2025 — at Barcelona’s Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys
Second Leg: May 6, 2025 — at Inter’s Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro)
In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Bastoni said: “I don’t know because the last time at the Euros it didn’t go so well. Barcelona have a clear identity, they may leave some space, but we have to defend as a team against them.
“We’ve already faced top-class wingers. [Michael] Olise and [Leroy] Sane with Bayern and Arsenal during the league phase. We need 100% focus and 100% fitness if we want to cause them problems.
Potentially, we could finish second in all three competitions, but at the start of the season, we had signed up to be table leaders and advance to the Coppa Italia and Champions League semi-finals. We feel the fatigue, but as we said at the start of the year, we want to go for everything.”
Inter Milan certainly has a chance to beat Barcelona in the upcoming UEFA Champions League semi-finals. Here’s an analysis of the factors that could influence the outcome:
■Inter Milan: Under Simone Inzaghi, Inter has been formidable this season. They eliminated Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals and are leading Serie A. Their defense is particularly strong, having conceded the fewest goals in the Champions League this season.
■Barcelona: Managed by Hansi Flick, Barcelona made a strong comeback against Borussia Dortmund, overturning a 3-1 first-leg loss with a 4-0 win in the second leg. They’re also competing for a domestic treble.
■Inter Milan: Striker Lautaro Martínez has been in excellent form, scoring 21 goals this season. However, Inter faces potential setbacks with injuries to key players: Marcus Thuram (17 goals, 5 assists) is doubtful due to an adductor injury, and Piotr Zielinski is out until mid-May. Denzel Dumfries is also a doubt .
■Barcelona: Young talent Lamine Yamal has been a standout performer. Former coach Fabio Capello noted that while Yamal is impressive, comparisons to Lionel Messi are premature. Capello believes Inter’s experience could help them contain Yamal, just as they did with Messi in 2010 .
While Barcelona may be favored, Inter Milan’s solid defense, tactical prowess, and experience in high-stakes matches give them a realistic chance of advancing to the final. The outcome will likely hinge on key player performances and how each team hinge on key player performances and how each team adapts tactically over the two legs.
Anyway, we expect an intriguing match.
and Alcohol 
