According to reports, Inter was initially scheduled to play AS Roma in Serie A’s 34th matchday today at 15:00 local time. However, the match was postponed due to the funeral ceremony of Pope Francis on the same day.

This rescheduling leaves Simone Inzaghi’s team with one less day of rest before their Champions League semi-final first leg against Barcelona on Wednesday (at Montjuïc Stadium). Italian media reports suggest Serie A offered Inter the option to play as originally scheduled on Saturday, but the club declined out of respect for the Pope’s passing.

This decision creates an additional challenge for Inter. Currently tied with Napoli at 71 points in the Serie A title race, they must simultaneously prepare for the Champions League semi-final. In contrast, Barcelona plays Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final tonight, giving them extra rest hours before the crucial European clash.

A Team in Poor Form
Inter, after advancing to the Champions League semi-finals, has suffered two heavy defeats in this critical phase of the season. They lost 1-0 to Bologna in Serie A and were eliminated from the Coppa Italia semi-finals after a humiliating 3-0 defeat to arch-rivals AC Milan in the second leg.
Simone Inzaghi expressed concerns about his players’ physical and mental condition after the Coppa Italia match, citing accumulated fatigue and the need to rebuild confidence for upcoming fixtures.

However, Inter is expected to have key players like Marcus Thuram, Denzel Dumfries, and Piotr Zieliński available for the Barcelona clash. Thuram’s presence alongside Lautaro Martínez in the attack is particularly crucial, as Inter has failed to score in their last two matches and desperately needs to regain their attacking form.