Hakan Çalhanoğlu and friends seek a spark! Inter wants to bounce back against Barça

Inter Milan arrives in Barcelona for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against a backdrop of worrying form. The Nerazzurri, who were runners-up in the 2023 final under coach Simone Inzaghi are experiencing a "dire run of results" that has seen their hopes of a treble evaporate. Most concerning is a scoring drought reflected in three consecutive losses without finding the net: a 1-0 defeat to Bologna in Serie A, a 3-0 loss to AC Milan in the Coppa Italia, and a 1-0 loss to Roma in Serie A. This marks the first time in over 13 years that Inter has lost three straight matches without scoring a goal.

Beginning of this poor run started with a 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich which led them to the semi-final in UCL. However this slump has also seen them fall three points behind Napoli in the Serie A title race.

Coach Simone Inzaghi acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating, "The three defeats hurt and we’re not used to this, we have to look at ourselves and try to recover our physical and mental energy."

A key factor in the recent struggles has been the absence of forward Marcus Thuram, who was missing from those three defeats due to a left thigh issue. Thuram has been vital for Inter this season, contributing significantly with 17 goals and nine assists. His absence has reportedly left Lautaro Martinez looking fatigued carrying the attack and replacement Marko Arnautovic ineffective. The good news for Inter is that Thuram has returned to training and is predicted to play against Barcelona, offering a potential much-needed boost to their attack.

Adding to the importance of the squad's key players, Turkey's captain Hakan Calhanoglu, a pivotal midfielder for Inter, is also set to play against Barcelona. His vision and set-piece ability will be crucial for Inzaghi's side.

Weird stuff happening again before a Barça-Inter game!

The tie itself carries historical weight, particularly referencing the 2010 semi-final between the clubs, famous for Barcelona's arduous 15-hour bus journey to Milan due to an ash cloud caused by the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull that shut down air space. Inter won that first leg 3-1 and advanced 3-2 on aggregate before clinching a historic treble under Jose Mourinho. While a recent power blackout in Spain caused concern, power was largely restored, and Inter's flight was scheduled, avoiding travel disruption.

Despite the current form, Inzaghi stated Inter will play "with respect, not fear." The second leg will be held in Milano on May 6th. For Inter, who last won the Champions League in that treble year of 2010, and Barcelona, who last won it in 2014-2015, this semi-final is a critical opportunity to overcome recent difficulties and past histories in pursuit of the coveted European trophy. Inter desperately needs to reignite their scoring touch and find their best form to overcome Barcelona in this high-stakes encounter.