Internazionale won their latest Serie A match against Hellas Verona with a heavily rotated squad, securing a 1-0 victory Saturday. The result came as the team directed its attention toward the upcoming Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona.
Kristjan Asllani scored the winning goal from the penalty spot early in the game. Manager Simone Inzaghi selected a team featuring many players who do not regularly start, resting key personnel for the mid-week European tie. The performance was functional, preventing Verona from creating scoring opportunities after taking the lead.
The win provided three points following a challenging period that included three losses in one week across competitions. Despite the victory, Inter remains second in Serie A, three points behind leader Napoli, who also won Saturday. Napoli requires seven points from their final three games to secure the league title.
With the Coppa Italia elimination by neighbor AC Milan, the Champions League represents Inter's primary opportunity for silverware this season. The club reached the final two years ago and has stated a strong desire to win the competition this time.
The first leg against Barcelona ended in a 3-3 draw. Inter demonstrated an ability to compete with Barcelona's high-scoring offense. Players like Alessandro Bastoni and Denzel Dumfries described the team's effort in the first leg as representing "the real Inter." ‘The real Inter’ prepare for Champions League showdown with Barcelona
Concern remains regarding the fitness of captain Lautaro MartÃnez, who left the first leg with a hamstring injury. MartÃnez has performed strongly in the Champions League this season. Marcus Thuram returned from injury to start and score in the first leg, illustrating that players can perform effectively even when not fully fit. MartÃnez is expected to train before the second leg, but his condition for starting the match is uncertain.
Inter's squad depth has been a topic of discussion. Simone Inzaghi noted the difference in options compared to Barcelona. While younger players like Bastoni, MartÃnez, Thuram, Nicolò Barella, and Federico Dimarco form a core, experienced players such as Francesco Acerbi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are in their mid-30s. Midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu continues to be a central figure for the team. Backup attackers Mehdi Taremi and Marko Arnautovic have contributed fewer goals this season compared to the primary forward options.
The team’s performance in the first leg has fostered belief within the group, building on a shared history among many players. They displayed resilience by continuing to attack even after conceding goals.
Massimiliano Farris, speaking on behalf of Inzaghi after the Verona match, stated the team achieved a significant result against Barcelona despite facing challenges. He added that replicating that effort would be necessary in the return leg.
