Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski will be among the substitutes for the crucial Champions League semi-final second leg against Inter Milan, according to head coach Hansi Flick.
The Polish striker, who missed the previous leg after injuring his hamstring in a match against Celta Vigo, is now fit to feature from the bench at the San Siro, where the tie remains finely poised at 3-3.
“Everything goes in the right way and he is good, much better than we expected, and he is ready for the bench. So maybe when we need him, he can come in,” Flick stated during a press briefing.
Lewandowski’s availability offers a significant lift to the team, having already scored 40 goals this season in all competitions. Barcelona will need a win in Milan to secure a place in the final.
Under Flick’s leadership, the club is chasing a remarkable four-title season. They’ve already secured the Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey, both at the expense of Real Madrid, and currently sit four points clear at the top of La Liga with four fixtures remaining.
“I did imagine it (a quadruple bid),” commented Dani Olmo. “I want to win everything. At Barca we have the team to be at this stage of the season with all of the trophies still to play for… We know what we want to do and we’re committed to that with the way we play. We’ve got energy and motivation, and we’re going to go for it.”
Olmo also downplayed concerns over Inter’s plan to double-team 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal, who impressed in the first leg with a spectacular goal and two near misses.
“That just means we’ll have a player free. Lamine has shown that he can play against one, two or three defenders,” said Olmo. “We’ll help him if that is the case. Our ideas won’t change, if he has two or three markers on him that means there will be other players free for us.”
The winner of this high-stakes encounter will move on to the Champions League final in Munich, where either Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain awaits. (AFP)
What you should know
Robert Lewandowski is available to play after injury and will start on the bench for Barcelona in their Champions League semi-final second leg against Inter Milan, a match that could determine their pursuit of a historic quadruple under coach Hansi Flick.
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