A defeat to the Italians would practically leave Xavi’s men out of the Champions League at the first opportunity
Barça are playing Inter Milan for more than just a game. The team led by Xavi, the one who has started a project to compete with the most powerful clubs in the old continent, urgently needs three points to qualify for the round of 16. A win could bring them back to second place in the group, while a defeat at the first substitution would mean the almost definitive farewell to the Champions League. That’s the thin ledge on which the Catalans will play a true survival final.
“It is an important game for the league. We have not done our homework and we are in an awkward position, but we will face it with courage and personality. We will work hard, it is a final in which the Camp Nou kettle must be,” Xavi assured at the press conference prior to his team’s clash against Inter. Tarrasa’s coach knows what’s at stake, nothing more and nothing less than staying alive in a league in which the Catalans have a duty, especially after last summer’s investment, to be among the best.
And it is that defeat would mean the abyss for Barcelona. The Catalans have just three points after defeats to Bayern and Inter at home, so a new puncture could put the Italians two days after the end of the group with six points, a predicted death. For this reason, the azulgranas will go out to contest an authentic “final” and they will make do with all the meat available on the grill. Xavi has warned that he will go “on the attack” with the idea of being “more aggressive” than in the match played in Milan a week ago, when the squad lacked depth.
For this Xavi will again have to make bobbin lace on the back. Jules Koundé, who is expected for the classic, Christensen, Araujo and Bellerín will not be able to be out of the game due to an injury. All these absences from the defence, along with those of Kessie and Memphis Depay, will define an 11 in which there will be no major changes from the bloc Celta defeated last weekend. Piqué and Eric García form the back, Sergi Roberto and Balde could occupy the wings and from there will be the usual ‘sextet’ of the new Barca with Busquets, Gavi and Pedri in midfield and with Raphinha, Lewandowski and Dembélé to try out balance with an Inter that is likely to withdraw again with the aim of creating problems in the counterattack.
In contrast, a team that came to the double showdown with Barcelona at a very delicate moment but felt great to measure up to Xavi’s. Inter got a breath of fresh air last Tuesday by beating the azulgranas and that momentum was enough to put an end to their bad run in Serie A too. Saturday’s 1-2 away win over Sassuolo with a brace from Edin Dzeko ensured that Inter Simone Inzaghi had a fantastic week arriving at the Camp Nou with morale restored despite still seventh in the Italian Championship.
Inter also has the advantage that even a draw is a good result with a view to reaching the round of 16, as it would allow them to keep three points away from Barca and a duel at the San Siro against Viktoria at the bottom. horizon would have Pilsen. To achieve at least that goal, he will have to overcome, yes, the absence of three capital players. Romelu Lukaku, Brozovic and Joaquín Correa will be absent due to injury, so Inzaghi will have to rehearse a squad in which Lautaro Martínez will once again be the spearhead and in which Edin Dzeko could be his partner.
Source: La Verdad
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