Inter Milan v Barcelona - Preview and possible lineups

TEAM NEWS: 

Inter Milan: Asamoah and Icardi are both set to return after being rested at the weekend against Genoa. 

Overall, just 2 changes to the eleven which beat Genoa, thanks in part to a clean bill of health for the Inter squad.

Barcelona: Despite travelling with the squad to Milan, it is highly unlikely that Lionel Messi will feature as he recovers from an arm injury. 

Dembele and Arturo Vidal were both rested at the weekend, so the pair should return to the starting eleven, in place of Rafinha and Arthur. 

WHO IS SAYING WHAT

Inter Milan boss Luciano Spalletti on Nainggolan​'s condition: “We have to assess him thoroughly in today’s training session.

"He played ten minutes against Genoa, something which helped us in our assessment. He knows how to play as a defensive midfielder and can operate through the middle. He has quality, strength and puts pressure on his opponents, thus preventing them from playing.

“We’ve always said that we can play against any opponent. The fact that the team is doing well, in terms of performance and results, demonstrates that this is the chance to see if we really can compete against any side.

"Barcelona represents the highest level of difficulty that there is."

Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde on Messi's condition: “He could play, but we’re not sure. He’s showing positive things in training, but we won’t put him in a position to get hurt again.

“If I don’t talk with him then I can’t say with any certainty, but we certainly won’t take any risks with Leo.”

“We’ll try to be aggressive and play the way we know. Inter will too, so we’ll need to be really attentive.

“It’s an important game for both of us and we’ll try to put ourselves in the best possible position to go through.

“We’re thinking about the present and tomorrow’s match, because we’re not through yet. Things are going well, but we’ve suffered in La Liga and the Champions League.

FORM: 

Did you know?

The Spanish champions would qualify regardless of the score here if Tottenham Hotspur and PSV Eindhoven draw once more at Wembley.

The two sides have met seven times in UEFA competitions, with the last meeting coming in matchday three this season - a 2-0 win for Barca at Camp Nou.

Barca have gotten the better of Inter all in all, with four wins from their seven meetings and just one loss - and that was en route to Inter's Champions League success in 2010 as 'I Nerazzurri' won their semi-final clash 3-1 on aggregate. 

Prediction: Inter Milan 1 - 2 Barcelona

Possible lineups: 

Inter Milan: Handanovic, D'Ambrosio, Skriniar, de Vrij, Asamoah, Brozovic, Gagliardini, Nainggolan, Perisic, Politano, Icardi. 

Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Alba, Busquets, Rakitic, Vidal, Dembele, Coutinho, Suarez.