Only four Barcelona-Inter semi-finalists expected to start on Saturday

BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 30: Denzel Dumfries of FC Internazionale scores his team’s third goal during the UEFA Coppa Campioni 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between FC Barcelona and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on April 30, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Reports in Italy suggest that just one Inter player who started in the Coppa Campioni semi-final first leg against Barcelona on Wednesday night will keep their place in the starting XI for Saturday’s Serie A match against Hellas Verona. 

The Nerazzurri take on Verona in San Siro on Saturday evening, as Simone Inzaghi’s side battle with Napoli for the Serie A title. Just three points separated the Partenopei and Nerazzurri at the top of the standings with four games to go. 

Inter are also at the midway stage of their Coppa Campioni semi-final against Barcelona, which is currently level at 3-3 after a massively entertaining performance in Montjuic on Wednesday night. Marcus Thuram, Denzel Dumfries, Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and Raphinha came up with the goals on the night. 

With the return leg coming up in San Siro on Tuesday night, both sides are expected to make wholesale changes for their respective league fixtures on Saturday. 

Which players Inter and Barcelona will rest ahead of Coppa Campioni semi-final second leg

According to reports from various outlets in Italy, Inter could make as many as 10 changes to their starting line-up for Saturday’s game against Verona. 

Pre-match reports suggest that centre-back Yann Bisseck is the only player who started against Barcelona that is expected to keep hold of their place in the starting line-up against Verona. 

Even goalkeeper Yann Sommer could be given a rest with Josep Martinez ready to replace him. 

Hakan Calhanoglu is suspended, as is head coach Inzaghi, while Lautaro Martinez is ruled out through injury, which means that they will all definitely not be involved against Verona. 

Nicolo Barella and Henrikh Mkhitaryan could both also be afforded rests with Davide Frattesi and Piotr Zielinski ready to play from the off against Verona. The same is also true for wing-backs Dumfries and Federico Dimarco, with Matteo Darmian and Nicola Zalewski expected to start. 

According to pre-match reports from Football Espana, Barcelona could also make up to eight changes for their LaLiga match against Real Valladolid, also taking place on Saturday night. 

That includes goalkeeper Wojciech Szcesny, who could drop out in favour of the returning Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, who has missed the last seven months of action through injury. 

Joules Kounde is also out through injury, while centre-backs Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez could also be rested. 

Gavi, Frenkie De Jong and Fermin Lopez are Barca’s expected midfielders for the Valladolid match, which means that Pedri and Dani Olmo will also be rested. 

Meanwhile, both Raphinha and  Lamine Yamal could also be spared, with Pau Victor and Ansu Fati prepared to start on Saturday night.