|
|
|
|
Printable Page
04/30 13:02 CDT Inter boosted by return of forward Marcus Thuram for Champions
League semifinal at Barcelona
Inter boosted by return of forward Marcus Thuram for Champions League semifinal
at Barcelona
By JOSEPH WILSON
Associated Press
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) --- Struggling Inter Milan has been boosted by the return
of key forward Marcus Thuram to the starting lineup for the opening game of its
Champions League semifinal against Barcelona on Wednesday.
Thuram, who missed Inter's previous three matches with a left thigh issue, has
scored 17 goals and provided nine assists across all competitions for the
Italian team this season.
Inter has suffered without Thuram, losing three straight games without scoring
a single goal for the first time in 13 years. That has seen it surrender its
lead of Serie A and exit the Italian Cup.
Hansi Flick's Barcelona is as confident as can be after beating Real Madrid in
the Copa del Rey final on Saturday. That launched the La Liga leader's bid to
sweep a treble of titles in its first season under the German coach.
Raphinha and his 12 goals in the Champions League will lead Barcelona's attack
along with playmaker Lamine Yamal and Pedri Gonzlez in midfield. Barcelona's
overall top scorer Robert Lewandowski is injured.
Barcelona has the best attack in the Champions League with 37 goals scored,
although Inter has allowed just five goals and kept a tournament-best eight
clean sheets.
The second leg will be next week in Milan. The winner will face either Paris
Saint-Germain or Arsenal in Munich on May 31. PSG beat Arsenal 1-0 in London on
Tuesday in their first match.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
|
| Copyright DTN. All rights reserved. Disclaimer. |
|
