Mkhitaryan: ‘Inter experience helps, tactics to deal with all of Barcelona’ | OneFootball

Henrikh Mkhitaryan admits ‘experience helps’ Inter against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final, but their tactical plans were not just focused on dealing with Lamine Yamal.

It kicks off at San Siro at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT, 21.00 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.

The first leg was a 3-3 stunner at Montjuic, so it is winner takes all this evening, whether it is to be decided after 90 minutes, extra time or even penalties.

The big news is that Lautaro Martinez has shaken off a muscular problem sustained in that match to start alongside Marcus Thuram, so the only remaining absentee is Benjamin Pavard.

Mkhitaryan trusts Inter can do it

BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 30: Henrikh Mkhitaryan of FC Internazionale scores a goal past Wojciech Szczesny of FC Barcelona that is later disallowed due to an offside offence 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 Carl Recine/Getty Images)

“This is a game that can take us to the final, so we want to do our best with our fans to get there,” Mkhitaryan told Sky Sport Italia.

“Experience helps, but so does calm and keeping a clear head. We must be united and fight to win the game together. We step onto the pitch to do our best and then we’ll see.”

Barcelona have Robert Lewandowski back on the bench, but Jules Koundé joins Alejandro Balde, Marc Bernal, Pablo Torre and Marc Casadó on the treatment table, so they are forced to reshuffle in defence.

Mkhitaryan looks beyond Lamine Yamal threat

BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 30: Yann Sommer of FC Internazionale saves a shot from Lamine Yamal 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 Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Considering the trouble that Lamine Yamal caused in the first leg, have Inter worked out a special tactic to handle the 17-year-old sensation?

“We did not just prepare to deal with a single player, but to deal with all of Barcelona,” assured Mkhitaryan.

Inter are playing this decisive match on home turf, so how much will the fans impact the result?

“A lot.”