Reconnect Lewandowski and other keys to the transcendental Barça - Inter Milan

It is October but Barça is already facing a real final.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
12 October 2022 Wednesday 12:33
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Reconnect Lewandowski and other keys to the transcendental Barça - Inter Milan

It is October but Barça is already facing a real final. And it is that the future of the azulgranas in the Champions League depends on tonight's game. A clash in style that ensures football, tactics, tension and competitiveness. Here are my keys to this transcendental encounter.

Given that last week's change to 3-4-3 at the Giuseppe Meazza did not put Inter in trouble, the two possibilities are open tonight (4-3-3 or 3-4-3). Taking into account the states of form seen in recent duels, a very good option would be to bet on the left sector with which the azulgranas finished the first leg. That is to say, with Ansu Fati and with Alejandro Balde.

The first because, Lewandowski aside, he is the striker with the most goals. The winger because he is without a doubt one of the players in the best form on the squad. The presence of both together would give more punch to a band that was excessively positional last week. You have to embarrass Darmian or Dumfries.

Another aspect that will be absolutely decisive will be that Barça is quick to circulate the ball, a point in which it was not accurate either in Milan. It is essential that the team has a lot of mobility and that it plays a few touches in the construction zone, as well as making changes of orientation. Because one of the things that does the most damage to low blocks is to spin the game a lot. Only then will you be able to create situations of time and space for the players who have to unbalance.

In the first leg, the Barça striker was too disconnected to such an extent that, with only 30 interventions, he was the Barça outfield player who participated the least in the game. An issue that cannot happen today. For them it will be essential that the set is wide on both sides (on the left it was not in Milan) and that the interiors are separated from each other so that the passing lines towards Lewandowski are clearer.

Given Inter's secure defense of five and the presumably reactive proposal of Simone Inzaghi's team as a game plan, it is non-negotiable that Barça will exponentially increase dribbling attempts to beat marks. Especially on the sides, the only points where the help will not come if Barça is agile in circulation. The dribbles to overcome and the doubles in the event that Barça comes out with full-backs, they have to be constant.

To the sources of danger already mentioned in the first leg with Barella, Lautaro and Dzeko, we must add Dimarco and Çalhanoglu. The first is a very complete and high-level left-handed winger for whom the Inter system (5-3-2) is doing fantastically well due to his qualities. He is deep, dynamic and highly intense in everything he does. In the context of tonight and, with a presumably starting Dzeko, we will have to be very attentive to what comes out of Federico Dimarco's boots. The player who centers the most in the Italian team (2.3 per game).

On the other hand, and seeing what happened in the first leg, Barça cannot allow Calhanoglu to connect his extraordinary from mid-range. The Turk is going to try in every way. Also in set pieces, which he is very good at. Beware of committing unnecessary fouls because the midfielder is in great danger both in direct free kicks and in lateral fouls, putting good balls.