Inter Milan’s hopes of a strong first-leg showing against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals have been dented by fresh injury concerns.
Inter’s injury crisis worsens ahead of trip to Catalonia
Inter Milan will travel to Spain without two of their most dependable French internationals, as Benjamin Pavard and Marcus Thuram are both unlikely to feature in Wednesday’s semi-final first leg against Barcelona.
Simone Inzaghi’s side were already reeling from three consecutive defeats in all competitions, and Sunday’s 1-0 home loss to Roma compounded their woes. More worryingly for the Nerazzurri, defender Benjamin Pavard was forced off after just 14 minutes with an apparent ankle injury, sustained during a non-contact landing incident.
Pavard initially tried to continue but was visibly limping and unable to properly engage with the game, prompting the medical staff to intervene. “He didn’t feel stable,” reports confirmed, and he was replaced by Yann Bisseck shortly after.
Early reports from Football Italia and Mundo Deportivo suggest Pavard has suffered a left ankle sprain and is “practically ruled out” of the midweek tie at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. Further assessments will determine the full extent of the injury, but his involvement looks highly improbable.
Adding to the Nerazzurri’s misfortunes, Marcus Thuram remains sidelined with a muscle injury. The striker has yet to rejoin full training and, like Pavard, is not expected to feature in the away leg. According to reports, “he has yet to touch the ball” and the club is now focusing on having him fit for the second leg in Milan.
Both Pavard and Thuram are regarded as “untouchable” players in Inzaghi’s system, and their absence is expected to significantly disrupt Inter’s plans. The defeat to Roma also put a dent in their domestic title ambitions, as Matías Soulé’s goal pushed Napoli closer to the summit of Serie A.
Barcelona buoyant after Copa del Rey win
Barcelona, by contrast, arrive at the semi-final on a high, having lifted the Copa del Rey in Seville on Saturday. They now turn their full attention to European glory, with the first leg taking place on home soil. Inter’s weakened squad could offer Xavi Hernández’s side a crucial opportunity to establish an early advantage in the tie.
Whether Pavard and Thuram will travel with the squad remains uncertain, but Italian outlets are unanimous in suggesting neither will recover in time for Wednesday’s showdown in Catalonia.
Site Opinion
Inter’s injury troubles couldn’t have come at a worse moment. With silverware on the line both domestically and in Europe, losing two senior France internationals on the eve of their biggest match of the season is a huge blow. Pavard, with his experience and positional intelligence, offers stability at the back, while Thuram’s physicality and link-up play are vital to Inzaghi’s forward line.
The absence of both players could shift the dynamic of the tie considerably. While Barcelona are far from flawless this season, they now have a chance to seize momentum in front of their home crowd. If Inter are to stay alive in the tie, they will need others—perhaps Bisseck and Arnautović—to step up in the absence of their first-choice stars. The return leg in Milan could still be decisive, but a heavy defeat in Barcelona would be tough to overturn.
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