Inter Milan Captain Fighting To Make The Bench For Barcelona Champions League Second Leg – Iran Or Austria Stars To Start | OneFootball

Lautaro Martinez is fighting to at least be on the bench for Inter Milan in their Champions League semifinal second leg against Barcelona.

This according to today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews. They report that one of Marko Arnautovic or Mehdi Taremi will likely start the match.

Lautaro Martinez had to come off at halftime of Wednesday’s Champions League clash between Inter and Barcelona.

The 28-year-old had started the match. That was hardly a surprise, as he is Inter’s captain, and has started all but one of the Nerazzurri’s matches since the March international break.

However, that relentless schedule evidently took its toll on Martinez.

The Inter captain indicated discomfort during the first half of Wednesday’s Champions League semifinal first leg against Barcelona.

This was particularly the case right before halftime.

And Martinez did not emerge with the rest of the team for the second half. Mehdi Taremi replaced him in attack for Inter.

Lautaro Pushing To Make The Bench For Inter Milan Vs Barcelona

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 27: Lautaro Martinez and Nicolo Barella of FC Internazionale are pictured talking prior to 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)

Yesterday Martinez underwent medical tests.

These showed that the Argentine has not actually suffered a serious injury. This is very good news.

A muscle injury would have ruled Martinez out for the second leg against Barcelona.

However, the 28-year-old is only dealing with “elongation” in the flexor muscles of his left thigh. Accordingly, he should only be out for a few days.

Therefore, there is a good chance that Martinez can already be back for the second leg against Barcelona.

However, the timeline is still very tight. There are only four days to go.

As such, Martinez’s goal may be to be on the bench, available to come on as an impact sub, rather than to actually start Tuesday’s match.

Taremi & Arnautovic Vying To Start Inter Vs Barcelona Second Leg

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – JANUARY 06: Mehdi Taremi of FC Internazionale celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Italian Super Cup Final between FC Internazionale and AC Milan at Kingdom Arena on January 06, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images)

Assuming Martinez is not ready to start Tuesday’s second leg, then Inter coach Simone Inzaghi will have a couple choices in attack.

Clearly, the Nerazzurri coach will aim to rely on Marcus Thuram. The Frenchman scored Inter’s opening goal in the first leg.

Meanwhile, Joaquin Correa is not a part of Inter’s Champions League squad.