Barcelona’s striker Robert Lewandowski is set to make a return from a hamstring injury, although he will start on the bench during the Champions League semi-final against Inter on Tuesday, as confirmed by manager Hansifrik.
The 36-year-old Polish forward, who netted 40 goals for the club this season, missed the last four matches after getting injured in a thrilling 4-3 win over Celtavigo on April 19. His absence meant he missed not only the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid but also the first leg of the semi-final against Inter.
“We spoke yesterday and everything is going the right way. [Lewandowski] is good—much better than expected—so he’ll be available to come off the bench if needed,” Flick mentioned on Monday.
Lewandowski’s return is a boost for Barcelona, which is aiming to reach its first Champions League final in a decade, especially after an intense 3-3 draw in the first leg. However, the team is facing challenges due to the injuries of fullbacks Jules Kaunde and Alejandro Balde. Flick hasn’t disclosed specific plans to replace them but hinted at possibly using center-backs Ronald Araujo and Eric Garcia or shifting youth players Hector Fort and Gerald Martin into those roles.
The absence of Kaunde and Balde poses significant hurdles for Flick. Barcelona is known for its attacking prowess on the right side, but they struggled to deal with Inter’s counterattacks during the first match, particularly from Denzel Dumfries, who assisted on two goals.
“As a coaching staff, we analyze everything. We’ve looked at how the players performed in different situations. We likely need some adjustments because we need to improve our defense,” Flick said. “Soccer is quite complicated. It all revolves around the players, but we have to find the right approach to the match plan and how we want to play. Changes need to be effective, yet players also have to showcase their abilities.”
Chasing a treble, Barcelona has not lost in domestic competitions since late December, sitting four points clear at the top of LaLiga. Following the match against Inter, they will host Real Madrid on Sunday in a crucial La Liga clash that could effectively determine the title.
On the other side, Inter’s manager Simone Inzaghi announced that injured captain Lautaro Martínez may be available. He had been sidelined after sustaining a muscle injury during the match in Barcelona.
“We’ll make decisions with the medical team and the players. Lautaro and Pavad need to express how they’re feeling,” Inzaghi stated. “On Sunday, Pavad participated in part of training and felt fine, but Lautaro hasn’t trained since the match in Barcelona.”
