Ex-Serie A player tells Inter to bench starter against Barcelona to control Yamal | OneFootball

Giancarlo Marocchi feels Inter should bench Federico Dimarco against Barcelona and start Matteo Darmian, who would only focus on marking Lamine Yamal.

Inter and Barcelona meet again on Tuesday in the second leg of the Champions League semifinals.

The first leg in Barcelona ended in a spectacular 3-3 draw last week, and the decider will be held tomorrow at San Siro.

“If Barcelona play their football for 90 minutes, there’s no contest, unfortunately. You need to let them tire out for the opening 45 minutes,” Marocchi, a former Juventus and Bologna midfielder, told Sky Sport.

Marocchi believes Inter should bench Dimarco vs Barcelona

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 27: Federico Dimarco of FC Internazionale controls the ball whilst under pressure from Matias Soule and Zeki Celik of AS Roma during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AS Roma at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 27, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“I’d also stay cautious during these minutes because Lautaro isn’t at his best. I don’t trust players who say: ‘I’m feeling a bit better.’ I’d leave Dimarco out and start Darmian on the left to man-mark Yamal, dedicating solely to him. I’d go through the opening 45 minutes like that.”

Yamal played a key role in last week’s 3-3 draw, scoring Barcelona’s opening goal and hitting the woodwork twice.

The Spanish starlet has 15 goals and 24 assists in 50 appearances across all competitions this season.

Inter captain Lautaro remains in doubt for tomorrow’s game, having sustained a muscle injury in the reverse fixture against the Catalans.

Inter will train in the afternoon, after a pre-match press conference from Simone Inzaghi and Alessandro Bastoni.

Barcelona have received good news from Robert Lewandowski as the Poland international was included in their squad list for tomorrow’s crucial fixture.