Barcelona and Inter Milan meet at the Lluis Companys Stadium on Wednesday night as the UEFA Champions League semi-finals get underway. With a place in the final at stake, both sides will be desperate to take an advantage into the second leg. Below are my thoughts on the first leg, along with a suggested betting option to consider.
Before we get started, here’s a quick look at the outright markets for the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. Barcelona are favourites at 2/1, closely followed by Paris Saint-Germain at 23/10. Arsenal sit at 12/5, while Inter Milan are priced at 9/2.
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BARCELONA v INTER MILAN – Click here to bet
Five-time Champions League winners Barcelona will look to draw first blood in the opening leg on home soil when they host Inter Milan on Wednesday night. The Catalan giants last lifted Europe’s top prize a decade ago, defeating Juventus 3-1 in the 2014/15 final, and now stand just two matches away from returning to the showpiece event.
Domestically, Barcelona remain firmly in control of the La Liga title race, sitting four points clear of nearest rivals Real Madrid with four matches remaining. Hansi Flick’s side head into this clash on a high after a gruelling 3-2 victory over Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday evening — a result that keeps alive their dreams of a historic treble, with La Liga and Champions League glory still within reach.
Barcelona finished second in the initial group phase, recording six wins, one draw, and one defeat to earn direct progression to the Round of 16. They swept aside Benfica 4-1 on aggregate before overcoming Borussia Dortmund 5-3 in a fiercely contested quarter-final. Unbeaten at home in Europe this season and buoyed by their recent cup success, Barcelona will be confident of seizing the initiative at the Lluis Companys Stadium.
Meanwhile, Inter Milan have once again proven themselves a major force in Europe, finishing fourth overall in the group standings with six wins, one draw, and just one defeat. They comfortably saw off Feyenoord 4-1 on aggregate in the Round of 16 before producing a clinical display to eliminate Bayern Munich 4-3 in the quarter-finals. The three-time European champions, runners-up most recently in 2022/23 when they lost narrowly to Manchester City, arrive in Spain having suffered just one defeat in twelve Champions League matches this season — that setback coming away to Bayer Leverkusen last December.
However, their domestic form has taken a hit at a crucial stage. A 1-0 home defeat to AS Roma over the weekend saw Simone Inzaghi’s side surrender top spot in Serie A, slipping three points behind new leaders Napoli. In a season that once promised silverware on multiple fronts, the pressure is mounting on the Nerazzurri to keep their campaign alive against one of European football’s most iconic sides.
Head-to-Head
These two sides have faced each other twelve times in European competition, with Barcelona unbeaten in ten of those encounters (W6, D4). The Catalan giants have won four of their last five home meetings against Inter Milan.
Betting
Barcelona 4/6
Draw 33/10
Inter Milan 4/1
Verdict
Barcelona’s unbeaten home form and superior record against Inter Milan certainly gives them the edge going into the first leg, but Inter’s resilience in Europe this season suggests it won’t be straightforward. With both sides capable of controlling possession and creating chances, a tense and finely balanced first leg looks likely. Backing Barcelona to claim a narrow victory while keeping Inter within touching distance sets up an intriguing return leg in Milan.
Suggested Bet: Winning Margin – Barcelona By 1 at 29/10
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Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
