Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni He called on his teammates to use all "available capacity" to contain the Lamina Jamal, Barcelona's 17-year-old sensation, ahead of tonight's second leg of the Champions League semi-final.
A big match is getting ready at the “Giuseppe Meazza”, and the fame surrounding Jamal, the teenager who excelled in the first game (3:3), is just one angle from which to announce tonight's spectacle. Admittedly, the angle that is being talked about the most.
"I've already faced him playing for the Italian national team against Spain, but back then he wasn't at his current level," Bastoni said at a press conference.
- I was impressed by the level he reached, his ability to do incredible things on the field. I think he's among the best in the world right now. We'll have to double him, maybe even go three-man on him, like we did sometimes in the first game.
Barcelona is not just Jamal
Inter was great in the first game, a team that was in decline, exhausted, seemingly on its knees, having just a few days earlier lost its leading position in Serie A, and was also eliminated from the Cup, showed its teeth on the biggest stage, against the strongest possible rival, in the most difficult circumstances.
When Barcelona is on the other side, also in a good mood, primarily attacking, we get a fireworks display of goals and a spectacle of the highest level (3:3).
Nothing less is expected in Milan tonight, with the second leg at Inter's temple of football set to have an irresistible dose of drama. There's no more time to make amends, everything will be decided tonight - who will go to the final, Inter for the seventh time in history, or Barcelona for the ninth time?
Bastoni compared tonight's match to "Game 7 of the NBA Finals."
- The chances are 50-50, everything is open, I think it will be a similar game to the first, so I'm glad we'll be playing in front of our fans - said the Inter defender.
- I can only be proud of how far we have come. We are two games away from winning the Champions League, that is our goal, we really want to leave a good impression, to make the people who follow us happy. We are sure that our fans will give us great support, we live for moments like this.
Lautaro ready, Lewandowski on the bench
Lautaro Martinez, Inter captain, a striker who was injured during the first match at "Montjuic" (he was substituted at half-time), is ready to start tonight's match, Italian media report.
Whole Train Simone Inzaghi He was not quite so explicit, although his statements to the media were perhaps made before he had any concrete information.
- The decision about Lautaro and Pavaru "We will bring it together with the medical staff and the players, on the day of the matches. They will have to tell me how they feel," Inzaghi said.
The latest information says that Pavar will not be ready, which means that Inter is weakened, but not to the extent that Barca is weakened.
Standard defenders, Bucket i Customer, are not available to the coach Hansi Flick, but it is recovered Robert Lewandowski, who will start on the bench.
- Injuries are an integral part of the game and cannot be undone. The absences of Kunde and Balde are significant, but Erik, Ector, Araújo, Girard... everyone can play. Everyone will help us and, believe me, they will do well - said the German coach.
Flick: We have to enjoy the game
Barcelona, unlike Inter, is flourishing on all fronts - it has already won two trophies (Spanish Super Cup, King's Cup), leads La Liga by four points ahead of Real and is racing towards the Spanish championship title, and the Champions League would be just the crowning glory of an unforgettable season.
Flik, therefore, does not want pressure and tension...
- We have already won two trophies. There is no need for me to put any additional pressure on the players. You have to enjoy the semi-final and show yourself and your teammates how good you are. I have players who never give up and who love to compete, love these kinds of games. That's why I don't want them to feel pressure whether they will reach the final or not. I see a good dynamic, a connection between the players. I think we are playing very well and we have to prove it.
Last chance for this Inter
The circumstances are also different, seen from a broader perspective - Inter, a significantly older team than Barcelona, probably has its last chance to do something big, to win the Champions League after being narrowly defeated by Manchester City in the Istanbul final two years ago.
12
Inter played in the semi-finals of the Cup/Champions League, and they have never lost at home - in 12 games they have achieved as many as nine wins and three draws. Is the tradition continuing, or is Barcelona breaking it?
For Barcelona, on the other hand, time is on their side, especially for such a young and potent Barcelona.
- They have clear automaticity in their game. They also have fantastic players in attack. They are very efficient and have a lot of experience. We have to focus more on defense, to try not to allow them as many chances as they had in the first match, which they took advantage of - said Flick.
Barcelona has won the Champions League five times, Inter three times. Only one will have the chance to improve their stellar record on May 31st in Munich. They are starting from scratch, even though it is 3:3 - tonight at the “Giuseppe Meazza” at 21 pm, when the Pole will Šimon Marcinjak to mark the start of the big game.
Bonus video:
