The stage is set for a blockbuster showdown in Europe as FC Barcelona prepare to welcome Inter Milan to the Estadi Olímpic tonight at 9pm CEST, marking the first leg of a crucial UEFA Champions League semi-final.
With the return leg scheduled for next Tuesday at the iconic Giuseppe Meazza, only two matches now separate the Catalan giants from a return to the final.
Fresh off an emphatic Copa del Rey triumph over arch-rivals Real Madrid just four days ago, and with the Spanish Super Cup already in the trophy cabinet, Barça’s season is shaping up to be one for the history books.
A La Liga title is firmly within reach, and with the club’s U19 side winning the UEFA Youth League and the women’s team marching into the UEFA Women’s Champions League final, dreams of a historic sweep are alive.
Still, the road ahead is fraught with challenges. The winner of this tie earns a ticket to Munich, where a final clash awaits against either Arsenal or PSG.
The French club currently holds the advantage after a narrow 1-0 win at the Emirates, courtesy of a goal from none other than former Barça forward Ousmane Dembélé.
Red-Hot Barça vs a Stuttering Inter
Barcelona’s form coming into this fixture is nothing short of exceptional. Across all competitions, they’ve tasted defeat just once in 2025, a marginal loss in Dortmund that had no real consequences, as they still qualified for the semis.
The Estadi Olímpic has become a fortress, with the Catalans unbeaten at home this calendar year and boasting a perfect record in this season’s Champions League home games.
Inter Milan, on the other hand, arrive in contrasting spirits. Their domestic form has wobbled recently, following back-to-back losses to Bologna and Roma, the latter of which cost them the Serie A summit to Napoli.
Adding to their woes, they suffered a heavy defeat to AC Milan in the Coppa Italia final.
Yet, Inter’s European journey has been solid. Finishing fourth in the League Phase, their only loss came at Bayer Leverkusen.
They convincingly dispatched Feyenoord 4-1 on aggregate in the last 16 before edging past Bayern Munich in the quarters, winning 2-1 in Germany and securing a 2-2 draw at home.
This semi-final is a clash of styles: Barça, the tournament’s most prolific attack with 37 goals in 12 matches (a remarkable 3.1 per game), face an Inter side that’s conceded just five times and boasts eight clean sheets, more than any other team in the competition. Simone Inzaghi’s men are defensively resolute, but can they resist the Catalan storm?
A Long History of Continental Battles
The clubs’ rivalry stretches back over decades. Barça and Inter have faced off numerous times, with only AC Milan and Chelsea having played the Catalans more in European competition. But knockout-stage meetings between the sides have been rare.
The most famous encounter came in 2009–10, when José Mourinho’s Inter ended Pep Guardiola’s dream of consecutive titles with a gritty 3-2 aggregate win in the semis.
Inter would go on to beat Bayern in the final and claim their third European crown, having previously won back-to-back titles in 1964 and 1965.
Past clashes include:
1958–60 Fairs Cup (Quarter Final): Barça 4-0 Inter / Inter 4-2 Barça (Barça advanced 8-2 on aggregate)
1969–70 Fairs Cup (Third Round): Barça 1-2 Inter / Inter 1-1 Barça (Inter advanced 3-2 on aggregate)
2002–03 Champions League (Group Stage): Barça 3-0 Inter / Inter 0-0 Barça
2009–10 Champions League (Group Stage and Semi-Final): Inter 0-0 Barça / Barça 2-0 Inter (group), then Inter 3-1 Barça / Barça 1-0 Inter (Inter won semi 3-2 on aggregate)
2018–19 & 2019–20 Champions League (Group Stage): Barça advanced both years
2022–23 Champions League (Group Stage): Inter 1-0 Barça / Barça 3-3 Inter (Inter advanced)
Team News & Key Players
Barça’s injury list includes key figures like Robert Lewandowski, Alejandro Balde, Marc Bernal, and Marc Casadó. While Marc-André ter Stegen is back in contention, Hansi Flick confirmed pre-match, “He is sticking with Wojciech Szczęsny.”
Inter will be without French defender Benjamin Pavard, while doubts loom over Marcus Thuram’s fitness.
The spotlight will shine on Argentine forward Lautaro Martínez, who has found the net in each of his last five Champions League matches and now has eight goals to his name.
With Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy leading the scorers’ chart on 13 (though now out), Barça’s Raphinha is hot on his heels with 12.
Tonight’s clash promises to be a tactical, emotional, and high-stakes battle between two giants of the European game, each with a very different story to tell this season.
Possible line-ups
Barcelona: Szczęsny; Koundé, Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez, Gerard Martín; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha; Ferran Torres
Inter: Sommer; Augusto, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Çalhanoğlu, Mkhitaryan, Barella, Dimarco; Lautaro Martínez, Thuram
