Martin or Martinez, that is the question

Barça , a victim of their phenomenal season, have barely had a break between matches. Including friendlies, they have played 57 matches, an exhausting tally that carries with it collateral damage. Without going any further, tonight they are playing for a place in the Champions League final without two of their most reliable driving forces, the flying full-backs Koundé, who suffered a muscle injury in the first leg, and Balde, who also missed the match due to muscle problems. Hansi Flick will opt for Eric Garcia to cover for the Frenchman. The German has already tested the Catalan in the position, who fundamentally understands the codes of Lamine Yamal: both were trained at La Masia, and that creates an immediate connection.

The problem is on the left, and his name is Denzel Dumfries. The Dutch prodigy was a nightmare at Montjuïc. He scored two goals and provided an assist, and Flick is torn between two options to stop him, although doing so will require the vigilance and solidarity of more than one player.

Eric Garcia will play on the right and Lewandowski will return but will wait his turn on the bench.

A late bloomer (he's 29), Dumfries is impossible to stop in one-on-ones because he dominates beyond dribbling: no one runs faster than him among the 22 players who will be playing tomorrow. Inter's formation, with three center backs and two wing-backs (he's the right one), suits him perfectly because it exploits his best qualities: he arrives like a plane and without warning, and, to top it all, he dominates the air.

Gerard Martín or Íñigo Martínez? That's the big question mark to be answered in Flick's lineup. The former is the natural solution and the one that least disrupts the defense, as it would allow Cubarsí and Ínigo Martínez to remain central, a de facto duo that perfectly matches their role. The problem is that Gerard Martín, whose season is more than commendable, floundered in the first leg to the point that Flick substituted him at halftime to move Íñigo to the left. Will the German repeat the trick? It's a possibility. The idea worked well, although it requires sacrifices. The Basque has a good foot and knows everything due to age, but he's not used to running on the wing. His center-back spot, meanwhile, would go to Araújo, who also provides depth. If the match forces a change of heart, Gerard Martín can always be called upon. And vice versa, of course. "It's not the ideal situation, but we have the resources, and we're analyzing everything here. We have to defend better, and we'll change something. That's as far as I can go," Flick said.

Pending the big decision, the rest of the lineup will be as expected, with De Jong, Pedri, and Dani Olmo in midfield, and Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Ferran Torres up front. Lewandowski was given the all-clear yesterday but will not start due to medical advice: playing him for more than half an hour is a risk.

For Inter, their starting lineup is a mystery. Simone Inzaghi is playing catch-up with Lautaro, who is struggling with physical discomfort, but the Argentine, the hallmark of the Italians, will most likely start. If not, Iranian Taremi will partner Marcus Thuram. Pavard, who was absent from the first leg, is just as fit as Lewandowski. Whoever plays, the anticipation for the match is high.