BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Struggling Inter Milan has received a major boost with the return of key forward Marcus Thuram to the starting lineup for the first leg of its Champions League semifinal against Barcelona on Wednesday.
Thuram, who had been sidelined for Inter’s last three matches due to a left thigh injury, has been a crucial player this season, tallying 17 goals and nine assists across all competitions.
Inter has clearly missed his presence, enduring three consecutive defeats without scoring — the first time in 13 years the club has gone scoreless in three straight games. As a result, Inter has lost its lead in Serie A and been eliminated from the Italian Cup.
Barcelona, under coach Hansi Flick, enters the semifinal in high spirits following a Copa del Rey final victory over Real Madrid on Saturday. That win keeps the La Liga leaders on course for a potential treble in Flick’s first season in charge.
