Milan’s San Siro is still buzzing from Wednesday’s wild 3-3 Champions League semi-final draw between Inter Milan and Barcelona, but both squads are already bracing for a different kind of battle. Come Saturday, only four players who started that high-octane clash in Montjuic are expected to suit up for their respective league matches. It’s a drastic shuffle, and it’s got managers Hansi Flick and Simone Inzaghi playing chess with their lineups.
Inter, neck-and-neck with Napoli for the Serie A crown, face Hellas Verona at home. With just three points separating the top two and four games left, every kick counts. Inzaghi’s not taking chances. Reports from Italy confirm only one player from Wednesday’s starting eleven—likely a defensive anchor—will keep their spot. The rest? Benched or rested, with the second leg against Barcelona looming Tuesday. Inter’s depth is being tested, and Inzaghi’s rolling the dice to keep his squad fresh for the title chase and Europe.
Across the border, Barcelona’s got their own juggling act. They’re squaring off against Real Valladolid in LaLiga, and Flick’s planning a major overhaul. Up to eight changes could hit the pitch, with only three semi-final starters—Gerard Martin, Frenkie De Jong, and Ferran Torres—expected to hold their places. Heavyweights like Raphinha and Lamine Yamal might sit, with Pau Victor and Ansu Fati primed to step up. It’s a bold move for a team still licking wounds from missing key players like Robert Lewandowski and Alejandro Balde in the first leg on April 30.
Both clubs are walking a tightrope. The Champions League tie is deadlocked, and league races are heating up. Inzaghi and Flick are banking on squad rotation to keep their stars sharp for Tuesday’s decider in Milan. No one’s saying it outright, but the message is clear: Saturday’s matches are dress rehearsals, not the main event.
The lineups from April 30 tell the story of that first leg’s intensity. Barcelona fielded Wojciech Szczesny in goal, with Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, and Gerard Martin in defense. Midfield had De Jong, Pedri, and Dani Olmo, while Yamal, Torres, and Raphinha led the attack. Inter countered with Yann Sommer guarding the net, backed by Yann Bisseck, Francesco Acerbi, and Alessandro Bastoni. Denzel Dumfries, Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and Federico Dimarco controlled the middle, with Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez up top. Those names lit up Montjuic, but most will watch Saturday from the sidelines.
Verona’s no pushover, and Valladolid’s scrappy enough to cause headaches. Still, both managers are betting on fresh legs to get the job done. It’s a gamble, but with silverware on the line, they’ve got no choice but to roll with it.