Simone Inzaghi hoping for an early recovery of a key player ahead of the second leg against Barcelona | OneFootball

Following the end of the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final tie between FC Barcelona and Inter Milan in a 3-3 draw, the two teams now have everything to play for as they face in the second leg at the Giuseppe Meazza this Tuesday.

Both the contenders of this tie have a domestic league match to play this weekend, with the Blaugranes facing Real Valladolid and the Nerazzurri facing Hellas Verona. However, both of them will be more concerned about the upcoming crucial match in the UCL. Thus, significant rotations are expected from both for their upcoming league games.

Simone Inzaghi hoping for a key reinforcement

However, in addition to getting some rest for some of his key players who were exhausted from the demanding game against Barcelona, SPORT reports that Simone Inzaghi is also hoping to get another key defender available for the second leg.

This defender is Benjamin Pavard, who missed the first leg due to a sprained ankle he suffered in the match against Roma. With this issue, he was previously expected to miss the second leg as well. However, after seeing his team concede three goals in a single match, the Inter Milan coach is particularly keen to have the Frenchman back available for the second leg.

Inter Milan defender Benjamin Pavard. [Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images]

Benjamin Pavard can help contain Lamine Yamal

If he is able to recover in time for this clash, Pavard can be one of the defenders in the three-man backline that Inzaghi usually fields. The French defender will likely replace Bisseck, as both Acerbi and Bastoni are fixed starters for the Italian manager.

He can occupy the left side of the defence, and his presence can be very helpful for Di Marco, or Carlos Augusto, as they will once again face a player as tricky as Lamine Yamal.

Furthermore, he can also prove to be decisive at the other end of the pitch. He scored the decisive goal against Bayern Munich in the quarter-final tie, and will once again be a threat from set-pieces against Barcelona.

Thus, while the Italians will be without their most important forward, Lautaro Martinez, for this game, they can recover one of their key defenders, i.e., Benjamin Pavard.