Barcelona arrive at the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan on a wave of momentum and home advantage.
On Saturday, Barcelona secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Real Madrid after extra time to claim the Copa del Rey for a record-extending 32nd time. Consequently, they have enjoyed an additional day of rest compared to their Italian opponents ahead of this semi-final first leg. Additionally, this contest marks the 17th European meeting between the two sides, and they aim to build on a head-to-head record featuring eight victories, five draws and three setbacks.
This is the first knockout encounter between these sides since José Mourinho inspired Inter to an aggregate triumph in the 2009/10 semi-finals. However, Barcelona still managed a 1-0 home victory during that tie. Moreover, they remain unbeaten at home in this season’s Champions League, with five wins and one draw at Camp Nou. Notably, they scored three or more goals in five of those matches, with only Atalanta limiting their output.
While Barcelona chase a quadruple of trophies, Inter’s best opportunity now lies in securing a double. Moreover, Inter suffered a 3-0 setback against AC Milan in the Coppa Italia last week. Furthermore, a 1-0 league defeat to Roma on Sunday left them three points adrift of the Serie A summit. Consequently, Simone Inzaghi’s squad have gone four competitive games without a victory and three without scoring, a run that hardly inspires confidence.
However, their continental form paints a very different picture. Inter enter this semi-final unbeaten in six Champions League fixtures after defeating Feyenoord and Bayern Munich in the knockout rounds. Moreover, consecutive away victories in their last three European matches boost their confidence as they travel to Spain.
Nonetheless, history works against them in Spain. It has been more than two decades since Inter last won a European away tie in this country. In fact, they have recorded three draws and seven defeats on Spanish soil in that period. Therefore, this statistic may weigh heavily on the Nerazzurri as they prepare for the first leg.
Looking ahead, players to watch include Raphinha, who opened the scoring in each of Barcelona’s last two home Champions League games. Interestingly, six of his seven European goals this term arrived before the break. Meanwhile, Benjamin Pavard celebrated his first goal for Inter in their previous European fixture against Bayern Munich. Remarkably, he has featured in four Champions League wins over Barcelona without conceding a goal himself.
Hot stat: Inter have kept eight clean sheets in this Champions League campaign. Moreover, they sit just one shutout shy of the Italian record jointly held by Juventus and AC Milan.
Ultimately, with both teams bringing contrasting momentum into this semi-final, the stage is set for an intriguing first leg. Barcelona will rely on their attacking flair and home advantage. Inter, meanwhile, aim to showcase defensive resilience and European pedigree in search of a positive away result.
World Time Zones
| Europe | GMT |
 London | 20:00 |
| Edinburgh | 20:00 |
 Madrid | 21:00 |
 Lisbon | 20:00 |
 Berlin | 21:00 |
 Paris | 21:00 |
 Amsterdam | 21:00 |
 Rome | 21:00 |
 Belgrade | 21:00 |
 Sofia | 22:00 |
 Warshaw | 21:00 |
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 Moscow | 22:00 |
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 New York, New York City | 15:00 |
| Texas, Dallas | 14:00 |
| Utah, Salt Lake City | 13:00 |
| California, Santa Clara | 12:00 |
| Alaska, Anchorage | 11:00 |
 St. John’s | 17:00 |
| Halifax | 16:00 |
| Toronto | 15:00 |
| Winnipeg | 14:00 |
| Edmonton | 13:00 |
| Vancouver | 12:00 |
 Mexico City | 13:00 |
| South America | GMT |
 Sao Paulo | 16:00 |
 La Paz | 15:00 |
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| Australia | GMT |
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| Eucla | 03:45 |
| Darwin | 04:30 |
| Adelaide | 04:30 |
| Brisbane | 05:00 |
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| Asia | GMT |
 Mecca | 22:00 |
 Kabul | 23:30 |
 Karachi | 00:00 |
 New Dehli | 00:30 |
 Dhaka | 01:00 |
 Jakarta | 02:00 |
 Singapore | 03:00 |
 Kuala Lumpur | 03:00 |
| Africa | GMT |
 Accra | 19:00 |
 Porto Novo | 20:00 |
 Casablanca | 20:00 |
 Johannesburg | 21:00 |
 Cairo | 22:00 |
 Nairobi | 22:00 |
Where to watch Barcelona vs Inter Live Stream and, on Satellite TV?
beIN Sports MENA English 1 (Ara),
beIN Sports MENA French 1 (Ara),
SuperSport Football Plus (Afr),
SuperSport Football Plus (Nga),
SuperSport Premier League (Afr),
Interesting perspective—thanks for making me think.