According to reports, Barcelona under Hans-Dieter Flick has no past—only a future. With young talents like Lamine Yamal, Cubarsí, and others, there’s a unique blend of inexperience and fearlessness that could be decisive against Champions League opponents, a competition where fear often plays a key role. Lamine Yamal, at just 17, seems to know nothing of fear: whether in press conferences (his first one was yesterday) or on the pitch, he exudes complete confidence. There are no signs of injuries or football-related setbacks disturbing his sleep.

On Tuesday, he joked: “I left my fear in Parc Mataró.” And in response to those who say he’s become arrogant, he added: “As long as we keep winning, no one can say anything.”

In his first media appearance, just hours before the Champions League semi-final, he seemed more concerned about his internet cutting out than analyzing Inter Milan’s strengths. After winning the Copa del Rey on Saturday night, he summarized the team’s mentality shift this season: “I told Araújo it doesn’t matter if we concede one or two goals because this year, no one can stop us.”

This Time, the Epic Belongs to Barcelona

Barcelona, riding high after their Copa del Rey final victory over Real Madrid, now enters one of football’s most mentally challenging competitions—a test that pushes teams to their limits. After months of stunning comebacks, they seem to have stolen Real Madrid’s epic spirit—a team now in a familiar role for Barça: the underdog.

Barcelona has transformed from a team that crumbled at the first setback into one that thrives under pressure, especially against teams like Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid. After several seasons of carrying heavier burdens into European competitions, Flick’s arrival seems to have liberated Barça from past ghosts. Their dominant group-stage win against Bayern Munich was a psychological turning point.

President Joan Laporta no longer hesitates to speak of a treble, as it now seems more realistic than ever. However, Flick faces the tough task of managing player fatigue and emotions at the season’s climax. The squad is on the verge of exhaustion, and after the Copa del Rey celebrations, they must refocus to overcome Inter at Montjuïc.

The Toughest Possible Opponent

On the other side, they face one of the most stubborn and difficult opponents possible. Inter will defend deep and deploy a 5-3-2 system—a formation that has always troubled Barcelona. No one doubts that Simone Inzaghi’s team will pack their defense and rely on counterattacks.

In this match, the team with the most goals in this season’s Champions League (Barcelona) faces the team that has conceded the fewest (Inter). These stats highlight the challenge awaiting Flick and his squad tonight.

Inter will try to push the tie’s fate to the second leg in Milan. In this competition, reaching the final in Munich hinges on these 180 minutes. Only five Barcelona players have Champions League semi-final experience, but the audacity of their youngsters could be their greatest weapon.