Lautaro vs. Lewandowski: What latest updates mean for Champions League availability | OneFootball

Inter and Barcelona both received positive updates from their respective centre-forward departments ahead of the second leg of the Champions League semi-final on Tuesday night, as Robert Lewandowski has been called up by Hansi Flick, while Lautaro Martinez is targeting a spot in Simone Inzaghi’s starting line-up.

Inter and Barcelona are currently level after a thrilling 3-3 draw in Montjuic on Wednesday, courtesy of goals from Lautaro Martinez, Denzel Dumfries, Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and an own goal from Yann Sommer, caused by Raphinha.

BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 30: Denzel Dumfries of FC Internazionale scores his team’s second goal whilst under pressure from Pedri and Frenkie de Jong of FC Barcelona during the UEFA Champions League 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 David Ramos/Getty Images)

Barcelona were without Lewandowski on the night. The Poland international has missed the last four matches across all competitions with a thigh injury.

Lautaro, meanwhile, started at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Wednesday, but was struggling with a thigh injury of his own before half-time and did not re-emerge for the second period, replaced by Mehdi Taremi at the interval.

Will Lewandowski start in Inter-Barcelona?

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – JANUARY 12: Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona celebrates after the final whistle of the Spanish Super Cup Final between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona at King Abdullah Sports City on January 12, 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

On Monday morning, it was confirmed that Lewandowski has been included in Hansi Flick’s 23-man squad for the second leg of the Champions League final against Inter on Tuesday night.

It remains to be seen how long the 36-year-old will be able to play, but reports from various outlets in Italy and Spain suggest that it will still be Ferran Torres starting at centre-forward on Tuesday night, with Lewandowski ready to make an impact from the substitutes’ bench.

Will Lautaro Martinez start in Inter-Barcelona?

BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 30: Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale warms up with teammate Denzel Dumfries prior to the UEFA Champions League 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 David Ramos/Getty Images)

It has not yet been officially confirmed that Lautaro Martinez will play against Barcelona on Tuesday night, but Monday’s reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport claim that he will be part of the squad, and is surprisingly pushing for a starting spot, despite picking up an injury just five days ago.

The Argentine will train with the rest of the Nerazzurri group for as long as possible on Monday, and will have another chance to rehearse with his teammates on Tuesday morning ahead of the evening kick-off in San Siro later in the evening.

La Gazzetta dello Sport, however, suggests that Laitaro  Martinez is very much in contention to start against Barcelona on Tuesday night.

Inter made wholesale changes for their 1-0 win over Hellas Verona in Serie A on Saturday, and were able to rest 10 players who started in the first leg against Barcelona last week.

Only Yann Bisseck started against both Barcelona and Verona, which meant that there were rests for Yann Sommer, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni, Denzel Dumfries, Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Federico Dimarco, Lautaro and Marcus Thuram.