Inter v Barcelona talking points: Ernesto Valverde faces big Lionel Messi decision

Andy West 12:36 06/11/2018
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  • Lionel Messi could be back in action for Barcelona in Tuesday night’s Champions League trip to Inter Milan, which could see both teams qualify for the next stage depending on the outcome of Tottenham’s meeting with PSV.

    The possible inclusion of the Argentine ace is sure to dominate the pre-game analysis, but there is also plenty at stake for Inter as the Italian team aim to secure their passage to the next stage.

    Let’s take a look ahead to the action with three key talking points…

    Is Messi back in business?

    The big decision facing Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde is whether star man Messi should be returned to action or give more time to recover from the arm fracture which has ruled him out for the last couple of weeks.

    Barca have coped remarkably well without their talisman, completing a 4-2 victory over Sevilla (he went off when they were leading 2-0), defeating Inter 2-0, thrashing Real Madrid 5-1 and coming from behind to beat Rayo Vallecano in a 3-2 thriller on Saturday night.

    However, the win at Rayo was only achieved with great difficulty thanks to two goals in the last five minutes from Ousmane Dembele and Luis Suarez, and the cracks evident in the team’s poor performance showed again just how important Messi is.

    The Argentine has not yet received the medical all-clear to return to action, but that could be forthcoming in the hours leading up to the game, and if there are no concerns over his arm that leaves Valverde with little reason not to pick him – his general fitness, after just two weeks out with an injury which did not affect his overall physical shape, will not be an issue, and Messi will be itching to return to action. The likelihood must be that if Messi can play, he will play.

    Lionel Messi.

    Lionel Messi.

    Will Inter go for broke?

    The question of Messi’s involvement is not only a burning matter for Barca boss Valverde, but also for his Inter counterpart Luciano Spalletti, who on Monday afternoon hailed the Argentine as the best player in the world and admitted that his inclusion in the visiting eleven would significantly alter his own team’s approach to the game.

    The big question for Spalletti and his players is how many risks they take in pursuit of victory. With a five-point lead over Spurs and PSV, Inter know that a draw would not be a particularly bad result and would leave them handily placed to secure qualification in the next two rounds.

    However, a victory would come close to already booking their place in the knockout rounds, as well as providing a big psychological boost ahead of the latter stages.

    With a potentially hazardous trip to Tottenham coming up later this month, Inter know they would be dumped back into third spot if they take too many risks and end up losing against Barca and then suffer another defeat at Wembley, or they could opt to be bold and leave themselves on the brink of qualification with two games to spare. And the question of whether or not Messi is on the pitch will doubtless play a big role in deciding their tactical approach.

    Inter Milan

    Can Icardi make a mark?

    One Inter player with particular motivation to make his mark on Barcelona is Argentine frontman Mauro Icardi, who spent three years during his youth with the Catalan club before being allowed to join Sampdoria at the age of 18 in 2011.

    Icardi has been in outstanding form this season, already netting eight goals in all competitions despite being rested from Saturday’s thumping 5-0 home win over Genoa. And he is going up against a Barca back line which has looked decidedly fragile this season, keeping just one clean sheet in the last nine games and regularly calling upon heroics from in-form keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

    Even when they win, this Barca team concedes chances – in the Clasico victory last weekend, for example, Real hit the post and squandered two more good chances to level when the scoreline stood at 2-1 – and Icardi will be confident of getting on the scoresheet for an Inter side who have netted at least twice in four of their last six home games.

    And if he can be the matchwinning hero again, Icardi’s stock as one of the world’s top strikers will undoubtedly rise a little higher.

    Inter skipper Mauro Icardi.

    Inter skipper Mauro Icardi.

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