Alarm in Milan! Inter collapses before visiting Barça

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2024/25

Alarm in Milan!: Inter collapses before visiting Barça

Published:24/04/2025 - 02:35h

Updated:24/04/2025 - 05:26h

Inter Milan was thrashed in the return leg of the Italian Cup 'semis' against AC Milan (0-3). The 'nerazzurri' have suffered two defeats in a row before facing Barça in the Champions League

Calendar of FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona could face an Inter Milan in crisis in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. On Wednesday, Simone Inzaghi's side fell to AC Milan in the return leg of the Italian Cup 'semis' (0-3), a very painful defeat with which the 'nerazzurri' say goodbye to the dream of a treble in 2024-25.

Inter were superior in the match, with more ball possession and twice as many shots as their rival (16-8). However, both teams had 3 shots on goal and the difference was a matter of effectiveness. Sérgio Conceiçao's team had 100% effectiveness, with a double from former Real Madrid striker, Luka Jovic and another goal from Tijjani Reijnders at the end.

Jovic put the 'rossoneri' ahead in the 36th minute with a perfect header, after a cross from Theo Hernández. The Serbian reappeared in the 49th minute, this time taking advantage of a corner in their favor. In the 85th minute, with Inter throwing everything forward in search of a goal, Reijnders sealed the match.

In the Italian Cup final, on May 14 in Rome, AC Milan will face Bologna, who in the 'semis' already thrashed Empoli in the first leg (0-3).

Crisis at Inter? Second defeat in a row and three games without winning

For Simone Inzaghi's side, this was their second fall in a row, after the narrow defeat on Sunday away to Bologna (0-1). A great goal from Riccardo Orsolini in the 90+4' sealed the victory for a Bologna side that put Inter in trouble throughout the match and deserved to take the victory.

The result allowed Napoli to equal the 'nerazzurris' at the top of Serie A with 71 points, with 5 matchdays to go. In case of a tie, the Italian league establishes the dispute of an extra match on neutral ground, a criterion in force since last season.

From 2004-05 to 2022-23, if there was a tie on points, the head-to-head record was taken into account first, and then the goal difference, as is the case in LaLiga.

Thus, Inter has stopped depending on itself to revalidate the title of its league. In addition, the team has gone 3 games without being able to win, since in the return leg of the Champions League quarter-finals they drew at home against Bayern Munich (2-2).

⚽Last 5 matches of Inter Milan:

  1. 🔴Inter Milan 0-3 AC Milan. Italian Cup semi-final second leg.
  2. 🔴Bologna 1-0 Inter Milan. Matchday 33 of Serie A.
  3. 🟡Inter Milan 2-2 Bayern Munich. Champions League quarter-final second leg.
  4. 🟢Bayern Munich 1-2 Inter Milan. Champions League quarter-final first leg.
  5. 🟢Inter Milan 3-1 Cagliari. Matchday 32 of Serie A.

Inter Milan, against the ropes before facing Barça

Thus, the defeats against Bologna and Milan are two tremendous 'blows' for a team that seemed to be on track for its second treble, something they only achieved in 2010. To make matters worse, their schedule has also suffered an additional unforeseen event.

Now, a week before the first Champions League semi-final against Barça, Simone Inzaghi's side are facing the most critical moment of the season. The Italians must travel to Catalonia on Monday and will have one less day of rest than the 'culés'.

And it is that, due to the death of Pope Francis, Serie A postponed all the matches of matchday 34 initially scheduled for Saturday to Sunday, as the funeral of the Supreme Pontiff will be held in Rome on Saturday.

Thus, Inter will play at home against Roma on Sunday at 21:00. Barça, on the other hand, will play a day earlier, on Saturday at 22:00, the final of the Copa del Rey against Real Madrid.