Rival watch: Inter recover key duo just in time for Barcelona clash | OneFootball

While Barcelona’s main attention is rightly on tonight’s Copa del Rey final, the club is also keeping an eye on Inter Milan, who they will soon face in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

On some level, there is some good news for Barça fans. Inter’s hopes of winning a treble were recently dashed after their defeat to AC Milan in the Coppa Italia. This setback could hurt their confidence just before facing Barcelona.

Beyond their form, Inter are also dealing with injury worries. Their key forward, Marcus Thuram is a major doubt for the Champions League clash. Although there are whispers of a slim chance he could recover, nothing is certain yet.

There is some good news for Inter

On the other hand, amidst these crises, a report from Mundo Deportivo has confirmed that Denzel Dumfries and Piotr Zielinski are close to returning for the Serie A side.

It is said that both players trained normally with the squad on Friday, and signs suggest they will be available for Inter’s weekend game against Roma.

Piotr Zielinski will be available for the Barcelona clash. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

However, they are expected to start that match on the bench because Inter do not want to risk them too much, especially with the big Champions League match against Barça only 48 hours later.

Inter’s plans focus on Barcelona clash

The real concern for Inter is Thuram. The French striker trained separately from the group and did not even step onto the pitch for full training.

It looks highly unlikely that he will be involved against Roma, as Inter are prioritising his recovery for the Barcelona match.

From Barcelona’s point of view, these developments are worth noting. Facing an Inter side that is not at full strength, especially with doubts over a player as important as Thuram, could give them a slight edge.

However, the focus remains on tonight’s final — after that, all attention will shift towards making a big statement in Europe.