With their captain doubtful for the second leg against Barcelona, Simone Inzaghi faces a tactical and emotional dilemma at the most crucial juncture of the season.
By [sachin singh]
As the dust settles from the first leg of the Champions League semi-final, Inter Milan are grappling not only with Barcelona’s attacking threat but with an internal crisis that could reshape their ambitions: the likely absence of Lautaro Martinez.
The Argentine forward, a cornerstone of Simone Inzaghi’s project and Inter’s emotional leader, signaled trouble early in the second half at Montjuïc. After starting eight consecutive matches in a congested calendar, his body finally gave out. “He felt a twinge,” Inzaghi admitted post-match to Amazon Prime Italia, painting a bleak picture. “It will be very difficult to recover Lautaro for the return leg.”
Initial assessments suggest a flexor strain, according to Il Mattino, with further tests underway. While not yet ruled out for Tuesday’s decisive second leg at the Giuseppe Meazza, Martinez will miss this weekend’s clash against Hellas Verona. The tight turnaround leaves minimal room for recovery, and a worst-case scenario could see him sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Martinez’s absence, if confirmed, presents both a tactical and psychological void. His work rate, spatial awareness, and leadership are irreplaceable. Marcus Thuram is expected to return, but options beyond him—Marko Arnautovic and Mehdi Taremi—offer limited upside. Both bring experience but lack the fluency Martinez shares with Inter’s midfield and Thuram himself.
Sticking with the 3-5-2 remains Inzaghi’s most likely path, but the manager did experiment late in the first leg, shifting to a four-man midfield with Piotr Zielinski to stifle Barcelona’s late surge. Such a tactical pivot might become more than a contingency plan if Inter fall behind in the return leg.
The emotional dimension cannot be ignored. “Tuesday we will probably play without our captain, and that is already a final for us,” said Inzaghi. Indeed, Lautaro is more than a striker—he is Inter’s compass in high-stakes matches.
If Inter are to progress, they will need to dig deep—not just for goals, but for resilience, cohesion, and belief. Inzaghi’s ability to inspire and adapt without his leader could very well define his legacy at the club.
—