Barcelona vs. Inter Milan: Preview and betting tips

Barcelona is playing for its life. It must win the duel with Inter Milan, otherwise it can almost say goodbye to qualifying for the Champions League eighth round, if it loses, for sure. How will the rematch at the Camp Nou turn out?

Last year’s black nightmare, when Barcelona already dropped out of the Champions League group (Bayern, Benfica, Dynamo Kiev) and wandered into the Europa League, is still vividly remembered in Catalonia. And they thought it would never happen again.

But one year has come and gone and Barcelona have to call off another blunder. For after the 4-1 win against Plzen came defeats to Bayern and Inter, and the Blaugranas are once again on the edge of the precipice. After three games they have three points and are playing with fire.

It was a lively week at the San Siro last week. Inter were the better team in the first half, should have kicked a penalty for handball, but VAR found a previous offside. Then Correa scored a goal, but Inter had it taken away by offside again. In the end, though, Calhanoglu really came through just before half time.

In the second half, Barcelona pressed their opponents, but nothing came of it for a long time. The goal was finally converted by VAR after a handball by Ansu Fati. A big injustice was then felt by the visitors in stoppage time when the referee failed to whistle a penalty for an alleged handball by Dumfries.

The rematch at Camp Nou could virtually decide everything. If Inter beats Barcelona again, they will already be assured of promotion, even if they lose their next two games against Bayern and Plzen.

In that case, they would have 9 points, Barcelona 3. If it beats both Pilsen and Bayern, it would have the same number of points, but a worse match against the Milanese side.

But even if there is a draw, it is uncomfortable for Barcelona. If we count on both teams beating Plzen, the Catalans would not be helped by a win over Bayern and an Inter loss to their Munich rival, at which point they would again have the same points and Inter would have a better mutual match.

Thus, if a draw were to be born at Camp Nou, Barcelona would have to win both remaining games and hope that Inter don’t beat Plzen on their own ground.

And how will the match unfold? Inter showed in the first game that they can threaten Barcelona’s defensive line. Moreover, the Blaugranas don’t have a 100% defence in Champions League matches, they also cashed in against Plzen, twice at Bayern and once against Inter.

In addition, the four defenders Koundé, Araujo, Christensen, Bellerín are out, the first two being key players. That’s why I think Inter can score again against Barcelona.

Source: Barcelona, UEFA