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Ahead of Tuesday night’s highly anticipated Champions League semi-final second leg between Inter Milan and Barcelona at the Giuseppe Meazza, former Inter striker Arturo Di Napoli has called the clash “the real final” of the competition.
Di Napoli, who featured for Inter in the 1996/97 season, shared his thoughts with SPORT following the first leg’s dramatic 3-3 draw at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium.
“This is the true final,” said the 51-year-old. “Inter will have the support of their home crowd, but that won’t faze Barcelona—they thrive under pressure and on big stages.”
Highlighting the contrast in playing styles, Di Napoli believes the outcome will hinge on tactical execution. “In Italy, the result is everything. In Spain, it’s about how you get there. Two different football cultures will collide,” he said, while adding a word of caution: “There’s no tactic that can stop Yamal.”
When asked about Inter’s key players outside of star forwards Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram, Di Napoli singled out Bastoni, Barella, Di Marco, and Calhanoglu as vital to Simone Inzaghi’s system.
He also praised Barcelona’s 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal, who has been a breakout star this season. “He’s an exceptional player. For someone his age to be this strong already, he could dominate any league.”
On Barcelona’s danger going forward, Di Napoli emphasized their team cohesion. “It’s not just one player. The collective threat is immense—add talents like Pedri, Olmo, and Lamine, and it’s a devastating mix.”
With a place in the Champions League final at stake, to be held at the Allianz Arena on May 31, all eyes will be on the second leg showdown.
Meanwhile, Barcelona fans are hyped after spotting a cryptic Instagram story from Lamine Yamal, convinced he’s primed to unleash “beast mode” in Milan.
