Major Rotation in Inter’s Lineup
Simone Inzaghi’s Special Plan for Barcelona Benefits Mehdi Taremi
Mehdi Taremi may start in Inter’s lineup against Verona ahead of the crucial Barcelona clash.
Inter Milan and Barcelona played out a thrilling 3-3 draw in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final. Goals came from Marcus Thuram, Denzel Dumfries, Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, and an own goal by Yann Sommer.
Before the second leg, both Inter and Barcelona will play domestic matches. Inter faces Hellas Verona in Serie A, while Barcelona meets Real Valladolid in La Liga. Both teams are expected to rest key players.
Inter’s defense could see major changes. Reports suggest Stefan de Vrij, who was benched in the first leg against Barcelona, is the only confirmed starter against Verona. On the right, Yann Bisseck or Matteo Darmian may play, while Carlos Augusto or Alessandro Bastoni could feature on the left.
Hakan Calhanoglu is suspended for this match and will watch from the stands. Christian Asllani is expected to replace the Turkish midfielder, likely partnering Davide Frattesi and Piotr Zielinski. If so, all three of Inter’s starting midfielders against Barcelona will be rested for the Verona game.
Reports claim Joaquin Correa is the only confirmed starter in Inter’s attack against Verona. Lautaro Martinez is injured and likely to miss the second leg against Barcelona, while Marcus Thuram is also expected to be rested. Therefore, Inter’s attack against Verona may feature Joaquin Correa alongside either Marko Arnautovic or Mehdi Taremi.