Barcelona won their last title with his important goals. But they will miss Jules Koundé against Inter. The French defender got injured in the first leg last week. Barcelona had hoped he would recover in time to travel for the away game, but he couldn’t make it.
The wait brought disappointment as Jules Koundé was left out of Hansi Flick’s squad. Missing their main right-back is a big setback for the team that has won the Champions League five times. Eric Garcia is likely to fill in at right-back for this match.
Barcelona also knew they would be without Alejandro Balde for this important game. The young left-back was injured earlier in the season and didn’t play in the first leg against Inter. Instead, 33-year-old Iñigo Martinez will take on the left-back duties.
Marc Casado also brings no good news. Even though he joined team training, the defensive midfielder isn’t ready to play yet. He waited until the last moment, but coach Hansi Flick decided not to include him in the squad. So, Barcelona left for Milan without him.
On the brighter side, Robert Lewandowski has recovered in time for the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan. While he’s unlikely to start the match, he is expected to play as a number nine. Ferran Torres will likely begin in that position.
Lewandowski has been a major threat to Barcelona’s opponents this season. His partnership with Lamine Yamal and Rafinha has been a big part of the team’s success. Unfortunately, he got injured at a key moment in the season, suffering a muscle strain in his left leg during the game against Celta Vigo on April 19.
The good news is he will be available for the second leg against Inter. He might come on as a substitute if needed during the game.
