Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi has singled out Lamine Yamal as the biggest threat ahead of their decisive Champions League semifinal second leg against Barcelona. After a pulsating 3-3 draw in the first leg, the Italian tactician emphasized that Inter’s chances of reaching the final depend largely on their ability to contain the 17-year-old Barcelona star.

“We need to keep him away from the ball, but it’s impossible,” Inzaghi admitted during his pre-match press conference. “Whether it’s a double marking job or one player staying tight, we’ll have to pay very close attention to him. He’s such a great talent at 17 years old.”

Yamal was one of the standout performers in the first leg, scoring Barcelona’s opener and constantly posing a danger to Inter’s backline with his pace, composure, and creativity. His performance not only reinforced his status as one of Europe’s most exciting prospects but also forced Inter to re-evaluate their tactical setup heading into the return leg.

Inzaghi stressed that limiting Yamal’s impact would require collective discipline and positional awareness, noting that the forward’s intelligence on and off the ball makes him incredibly difficult to neutralize. “Even with close marking, he knows how to find the space. We’ll need everyone to be switched on,” the coach added.

The semifinal second leg, set to take place at the San Siro, will see Inter aiming to use their home advantage to edge past Barcelona and book their spot in the Champions League final. The tie is finely balanced after the first-leg draw, and the margin for error is razor-thin.

While Barcelona will look to unleash Yamal once again in attack, Inter must find the right tactical balance between defensive solidity and offensive execution. With Lautaro Martínez and Nicolò Barella expected to lead the charge for the Nerazzurri, Inzaghi’s game plan will likely revolve around pressing high while maintaining tight control over Barça’s key players—especially Yamal.

As anticipation builds ahead of one of the most crucial fixtures in the European calendar, all eyes will be on how Inter approach the challenge and whether Inzaghi’s plan to silence Lamine Yamal can be executed to perfection.

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