Champions League: Can Barcelona’s youth outshine Inter’s experience?
by Thobelani Moyo | by Cydias Aujard
Champions League: Can Barcelona's youth beat Inter's experience?
Barcelona is filled with many youth players at its disposal and some of them have really been influential in the team's success this season. While some are yet to play an important role there's still an opportunity for them to impress and fly high.
At just 17 years old, Lamine Yamal has made a name for himself and is considered a very important asset to the first team. So far, he has made 100 appearances for Barca, an incredible milestone when compared to club legend Lionel Messi's 9 when he was at this age.
The youngster has managed to set records during this stretch. His goal against Inter Milan in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final last Wednesday put him in the spotlight as he became the first young player to score a goal in such a competition. Can he do it again by scoring the decisive goal tonight? What do our sports betting experts have to say about this Inter Milan v Barcelona prediction?
There are also other names that complement him when talking about Barca's youthful exuberance. Pau Cubarsi is such a name, and he has become a reliable pick for head coach Hansi Flick when it comes to defense.
Another valuable asset is Alejandro Balde, a product of the La Masia academy. However, the defender won't be available for the second leg tie against Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League semi-final as he nurses a hamstring injury. In fact, he has missed six games for Barca.
Gavi has also played an important role for the team this season, especially in midfield. He has been widely recognized for his aggressive pressing. He has made 37 appearances and has three goals and three assists to his name.
Other Youth Players In Barca's Squad:
- Pedri (22)
- Ansu Fati (22)
- Eric Garcia (24)
- Fermin Lopez (21)
- Gerard Martin (23)
- Marc Casado (21)
- Marc Bernal (17)
- Pablo Torre (22)
- Pau Victor (23)
Inter Milan may not be blessed with a plethora of youngsters in their squad, but if there's one thing certain is that they bring seasoned insight to the table.
Head coach Simone Inzaghi has built a solid reputation under this seasoned background. Appointed in June 2021, he has enjoyed a great deal of success with the team, adding six trophies to his resume.
Despite being the club with the oldest players in Italy's top-flight league (Serie A), this is the same team that reached the finals of the UEFA Champions League in the 2022-23 season. However, they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City.
Who are these seasoned professionals that Inter Milan boasts of?
Henrikh Mkhitaryan, 36 years old, had a 6.8 rating in the first leg tie against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League semi-final. His expertise lies in midfield.
Yann Sommer, 36 years old, is Inter Milan's first choice goalkeeper, and he has been terrific this season. He is also the reason behind his team's 3-3 draw last time out against Barcelona in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final as he made six saves from nine shots on target.
Francesco Arcebi, 37 years old, is the heart of Inter Milan's defense and has shown no signs of slowing down despite his age nearing 40 years.
These are a few names that contribute to this veteran squad. We have compiled a quick, easy list for the other players below:
- Stefan de Vrij (33)
- Matteo Darmian (35)
- Marko Arnautovic (36)
- Mehdi Taremi (32)
- Hakan Calhanoglu (31)
- Raffaele Di Gennaro (31)
- Joaquin Correa (30)
- Piotr Zielinski (30)
The Tactical Battle Ahead: What to Expect?
Barcelona's style of play was very much evident in the first leg tie against Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League. They are a possession team and had a whopping 72% of ball possession compared to their opponents' 29%.
With energetic young players such as Lamine Yamal and Pedri, to name a few, there's no denying they'll be a thorn once again and disrupt Inter's defense.
Inter Milan are sticking to the same formation they played against Barca in the first leg tie, a 3-5-2 formation. Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram will lead the attack. Basically, the same lineup remains unchanged.
As we saw in their last match against Barcelona, Inter disrupted their opponents' rhythm and capitalized on set-pieces and counterattacks. The same strategy will be used tonight.
The Defining Moment In European Football
Barcelona has more than eight youth players who come from the famous La Masia academy. If they manage to get past Inter Milan and win the final, it will mark a new beginning where home grown talent rules the center stage.
Turning the tables around, for Inter Milan, it will simply mean that significant experience and smart play is the way of becoming successful in Europe's most revered competition.
