As the Champions League semi-finals heat up, Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni is filled with optimism ahead of the crucial second leg against Barcelona at the iconic San Siro. Scheduled for May 7, 2025, this match follows a thrilling first leg that ended in a dramatic 3-3 draw at Montjuic last week, setting the stage for an epic showdown in Milan.
In a pre-match press conference, Bastoni expressed his admiration for Barcelona's young sensation, Lamine Yamal, stating, "I think he is among the best in the world right now. I had already faced him with Spain and he was not yet at this level. I was impressed by the level he reached, for his age and ability to create incredible things on the pitch." The defender emphasized the need for Inter to step up their game, suggesting they may need to triple-mark Yamal to contain his impact on the match.
Reflecting on the first leg, Bastoni noted, "We made mistakes in transitions that could have given us scoring opportunities thanks to their style of play, but I think we can improve a lot. We’ll learn from the first leg to create problems for them." He added, "We’re two games away from potentially winning the Champions League. Of course, we're going to give more, we're going to give 200% because within our group, with the directors and the manager, we're aware we're playing in a Champions League semi-final, which isn't something that happens every year. Sometimes it is taken for granted, but it is not. We're eager to play, we're very excited.”
With the San Siro expected to be sold out, the atmosphere is sure to provide a significant boost for the Nerazzurri. Bastoni remarked, "Having San Siro full, with the fans singing for us, will give us a huge boost, especially when we may be feeling a bit tired during the match. But once we’re on the field, it’s always 11 against 11, so we’ll need to keep our heads cool and sharp to make the right decisions.”
In terms of strategy, Inter's head coach Simone Inzaghi echoed Bastoni's sentiments, acknowledging the challenge of defending against Yamal. "(Defending Yamal) is very difficult; we’ll have to try not to let him get the ball, but that's impossible in modern football. He'll be closely marked, he'll be double-marked, and we'll try to be careful. However, as I said in the first leg, having seen him live, he's a huge talent: at his age, he's really dangerous. In difficult moments, they hand him the ball, and I was impressed by his quick thinking. When he receives the ball, he already knows what to do next," Inzaghi explained.
As Inter prepares for this high-stakes encounter, the fitness of key players remains a concern. Lautaro Martinez, the club captain and top scorer in the Champions League with eight goals, is in doubt due to a flexor injury. Bastoni emphasized the importance of Martinez's leadership on the pitch, stating, "I’ve always said that taken individually, we might not be among the top four teams in Europe, but we thrive when we play together and Lautaro is our leader on a moral level as well as a physical level." Meanwhile, Benjamin Pavard's availability is also uncertain as he recovers from an ankle sprain.
Inter Milan has made headlines not just for their on-field performances but also for their off-field achievements. The club set a new gate receipt record for Serie A clubs in European football, earning around €14 million from ticket sales for this match, surpassing the previous record of approximately €12 million set during the 2022/23 semi-finals against AC Milan. This financial milestone reflects the excitement and anticipation surrounding this Champions League clash.
As the match approaches, Bastoni remains focused on the task at hand. "We are sure that our fans will give us a big hand at the San Siro, we live for moments like this," he said. The defender, who has been with Inter for six seasons, is proud of the team's progress and their ability to compete at the highest level. "I can't help but be proud of how our trajectory has gone this season. We care a lot about making our fans happy. We’ve made many sacrifices: we haven't had a day off in ages because we care too much about doing well and I cannot do anything but thank this group for what they’ve done this season," Bastoni added.
Looking back, Inter Milan has come a long way, having reached the semi-finals in two of the last three Champions League campaigns after struggling to advance past the Round of 16 for three consecutive years. Bastoni believes that the maturity of the team will serve them well as they face Barcelona again. "There are two ways of reading things so I do not really know what will happen. But we are going to give everything that we can on the field. The first leg of this competition has given us all a really great idea of what Barcelona are like and we will try to make things difficult for them tomorrow," he stated.
As the countdown to kick-off begins, the tension and excitement are palpable. Inter Milan is not just playing for a spot in the Champions League final; they are also fighting to prove their mettle against one of Europe's elite clubs. With a full San Siro behind them, the Nerazzurri are ready to leave it all on the pitch and give their fans a night to remember.
