Inzaghi: Inter Impress in Barcelona Thriller but Leave with Regrets

Inter Milan put on a commanding performance in their Champions League semi-final first leg against Barcelona, securing a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. Despite the positive result, coach Simone Inzaghi expressed mixed emotions after the match.

The Nerazzurri took an early lead through Marcus Thuram’s clever back-heel flick within 30 seconds of kick-off. Denzel Dumfries then added a brace to put Inter 3-0 up, but Barcelona fought back to level the score.

Inzaghi praised his team’s performance, stating, “We played a great game against what I consider to be the best team in the world right now.” However, he also noted some regrets, particularly regarding a disallowed goal for Henrikh Mkhitaryan due to a marginal offside call.

The Inter coach highlighted the challenge posed by Barcelona’s young star Lamine Yamal, who hit the crossbar twice. “Lamine Yamal is a player whose quality I haven’t seen for at least 8-9 years,” Inzaghi remarked, explaining the tactical adjustments made to contain the threat.

Inter’s aggressive wing-back play through Dumfries and Federico Dimarco proved effective against Barcelona’s high defensive line. Inzaghi acknowledged the risks taken by the Catalan side but also their success in scoring 50 goals this season.

A concern for Inter is the fitness of striker Lautaro Martinez, who was substituted at half-time due to a thigh issue. Inzaghi expressed doubts about Martinez’s availability for the second leg, citing the congested fixture schedule as a contributing factor to player fatigue and injuries.

Looking ahead to the return leg at San Siro on May 6, Inzaghi emphasized the importance of the match: “It’s going to be a Final on Tuesday. Whoever wins will play another Final, whoever loses will go home.”

The draw sets up an intriguing second leg, with both teams having everything to play for in Milan.