Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez, center top, watches from the tribune during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Hellas Verona at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Barcelona’s goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny clears the ball in front of Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez during the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Barcelona and Inter Milan at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Inter Milan’s Marcus Thuram, left, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side’s opening goal during the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Barcelona and Inter Milan at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Inter Milan’s head coach Simone Inzaghi shouts out as gives instructions from the side line during the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Barcelona and Inter Milan at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Inter captain Lautaro could make surprise comeback against Barcelona in Champions League
MILAN (AP) 鈥 Inter Milan captain Lautaro Mart铆nez is hoping to emulate strike partner Marcus Thuram ahead of their team鈥檚 Champions League semifinal against Barcelona on Tuesday.
Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez, center top, watches from the tribune during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Hellas Verona at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
MILAN (AP) 鈥 Inter Milan captain Lautaro Mart铆nez is hoping to emulate strike partner Marcus Thuram ahead of their team鈥檚 Champions League semifinal against Barcelona on Tuesday.
In the buildup to the first leg last week, the focus was on whether Thuram would be fit in time even for a place on the bench after missing three matches with a thigh problem.
But and scored the opener just seconds after kickoff in that has set up a must-see sequel in Milan.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
This time around it is after having to come off at halftime against Barcelona last Wednesday with a thigh muscle injury.
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi admitted last week that it would be 鈥渧ery difficult鈥 to have Lautaro back in time as that type of injury normally takes 10 days to two weeks to recover from.
But confidence is growing in the Inter camp. Lautaro trained in the gym on Sunday and Italian media reports that the Argentina World Cup winner could be back with the group in their afternoon training session on Monday.
Lautaro himself posted : a photo of him doing exercises in the gym, captioned with emojis of an hourglass and a battery.
Thuram commented on the image with an emoji of an alarm clock.
Lautaro is Inter鈥檚 record goalscorer in Europe鈥檚 elite club competition, with 20 goals 鈥 including eight this season.
The 27-year-old has scored 21 goals and added six assists for Inter across all competitions this campaign.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
鈥淟autaro will do the impossible to be there,鈥 Inzaghi鈥檚 assistant coach, Massimiliano Farris, said after Saturday鈥檚 win over Hellas Verona in Serie A.
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation