Polish forward Robert Lewandowski was not named in the squad by Hansi Flick for Barcelona’s Champions League semifinal first leg against Inter Milan.
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Barcelona and Inter Milan clash in Spain for the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals, and the home side is missing a key player—star striker Robert Lewandowski.
Lewandowski’s absence is due to a left semitendinosus muscle injury sustained on April 19 during Barcelona’s thrilling 4-3 victory over Celta Vigo in LaLiga’s 32nd matchday. The injury forced him to miss the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid.
While there is no definitive timeline for his return, Barcelona remains hopeful that Lewandowski will be fit enough to feature in the second leg at Inter Milan’s stadium next week, even though, his return seems unlikely at this stage.
The loss of Lewandowski is a major blow for Barcelona. The Polish striker is the team’s top scorer this season, with an impressive 40 goals in 48 appearances. This injury marks his first muscular setback of the season, which also ruled him out of the Copa del Rey final and a league match against Mallorca.
Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona goes down with an injury during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and RC Celta de Vigo. (Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Despite Lewandowski’s absence, Barcelona has managed to adapt, with Ferran Torres stepping in as the starting forward in recent matches. The Spanish striker has risen to the occasion, notably scoring the equalizer against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final, forcing extra time. Jules Koundé later secured the decisive goal, sealing Barcelona’s victory and claiming the prestigious trophy.
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When will Lewandowski return?
According to Barcelona, Polish striker Robert Lewandowski is expected to be sidelined for at least three weeks due to his left hamstring injury. The club will monitor his progress daily to determine if he can return in time for the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals against Inter Milan.
When is the second leg of the semifinals between Barcelona and Inter Milan?
The second leg of the Champions League semifinals between Barcelona and Inter Milan is scheduled for May 6 at the Giuseppe Meazza in Italy. Barcelona will aim to return to the Champions League final for the first time since the 2014-15 season when they defeated Juventus 3-1 to claim the trophy.
Meanwhile, Inter Milan is looking to make their first final appearance since 2010, a year that saw the Italian club lift the Champions League title after a 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich.
