Simone Inzaghi explains why Marcus Thuram is risked from the start for Inter against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final. ‘I don’t think a single player can change the team.’
It kicks off at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT, 21.00 CET), because Camp Nou is undergoing intensive restructuring work.
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You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.
The second leg will be at San Siro on Tuesday May 6.
Inzaghi unleashes Thuram for Inter attack
epa11760964 Inter Milan’s forward Marcus Thuram (L) hugs Inter Milan’s head coach Simone Inzaghi after scoring during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Parma at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan, Italy, 06 December 2024. EPA-EFE/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO
The big question mark was over whether Thuram would play, seeing as Inter have failed to even score in their last three games.
“Yes, Thuram starts. We had the training session this morning, he’s fine, it has been 10 days since that problem he had, so we decided with the staff he could start,” Inzaghi told Amazon Prime Video Italia.
“He is an important player who we have missed, but I don’t think a single player can change the team. The whole squad got us here to play this game.”
Inzaghi ready to shatter another record
MUNICH, GERMANY – APRIL 08: Simone Inzaghi, Head Coach of FC Internazionale, reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg match between FC Bayern München and FC Internazionale Milano at Fussball Arena Muenchen on April 08, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Barcelona are unbeaten at their temporary home stadium so far this season, but Inzaghi points out that isn’t the first time Inter have gone up against a similar statistic.
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“We went to Munich, they hadn’t lost at home for three years, these are teams who always get to the final phases of the Champions League and are well-built, but we’re here to have our say.”
In the last couple of weeks, the Nerazzurri have gone from talking about the Treble to the very real risk they will end the campaign empty-handed, crashing out of the Coppa Italia to Milan and falling three points behind new Serie A leaders Napoli with three consecutive defeats.
“It has been a difficult week that we did not enjoy, clearly, but this is part of the journey for all teams,” concluded Inzaghi.
