Inter Milan’s dream season is threatening to spiral into disappointment as the team faces Barcelona in Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final amid a troubling dip in form and morale.
The Nerazzurri surged into the last four of Europe’s premier competition following a triumphant two-legged victory over Bayern Munich. Argentine talisman Lautaro Martinez, who has netted seven Champions League goals since January, was the standout in both legs — scoring home and away to steer Inter past the Bundesliga giants. He celebrated his opening goal in Munich on April 8 with Italian teammates Federico Dimarco and Nicolo Barella, a moment that seemed to signal Inter’s rising dominance.
But that high has quickly turned to despair. Since that thrilling quarter-final win, Simone Inzaghi’s side has suffered three consecutive defeats across all competitions — failing to score in any of them. This dismal run included a 3-0 demolition by arch-rivals AC Milan that eliminated them from the Italian Cup, a loss to Roma at a subdued San Siro, and a dip in Serie A form that has handed Napoli a three-point lead with just four matches left.
Inzaghi admitted his side looked drained both physically and mentally after the latest setback on Sunday, acknowledging, “We deserved more and created chances, but we weren’t sharp enough. A win might’ve given us some energy, but now we must find that spark within.”
The slump has left fans and analysts alike questioning Inter’s ability to recover in time for their clash with Barcelona, especially with just a short rest period following the rescheduled Roma fixture. Defender Benjamin Pavard’s injury has added to the squad’s worries, and key striker Marcus Thuram remains doubtful. His absence has left Lautaro Martinez carrying the attacking burden — a role in which he now looks visibly fatigued and increasingly frustrated.
Barcelona, meanwhile, are riding high after clinching the Copa del Rey with a win over Real Madrid, marking their third consecutive victory in El Clasico. The Spanish side’s momentum adds another layer of difficulty to Inter’s challenge.
Wing-back Carlos Augusto remains optimistic despite the recent setbacks, stating, “We’re not scared. It’s April, and we’re still in the hunt for something great. This team has already achieved a lot and we remain focused.”
Inter’s current losing streak without scoring mirrors a similar run from 2012 under Claudio Ranieri, a worrying historical echo. Ironically, that same Ranieri nearly derailed Inter’s title hopes in 2010 — the year Jose Mourinho’s team beat Barcelona in the semis en route to a historic treble.
Now, Inzaghi and his players must summon that same spirit if they are to turn their season around. What once looked like a march to glory has become a desperate scramble to salvage silverware and avoid finishing empty-handed.
