Lautaro Martinez Long-Shot to Recover for Barcelona Tilt | OneFootball

There’s only a slim hope Lautaro Martinez will be available for the return leg against Barcelona. The striker subbed off at halftime earlier this week and has been diagnosed with a left flexor elongation. The injury would normally need 7 to 10 days to heal. There’s a 5 percent chance he’ll make it for Tuesday, Sky relayed.

El Toro has put up subpar numbers in Serie A but has been superb in the Champions League. He has tallied 8 goals in 12 appearances. The striker has missed six matches this season. The Nerazzurri have generally done well without him, winning five times and drawing once. The match-ups helped them in that regard.

Without Lautaro Martinez, Inter have gotten the better of Lecce back in August, Hellas Verona in November, Lazio in the Coppa Italia, Feyenoord in the return leg of the Champions League’s Round of 16, and Udinese in late March. They shared the spoils against Milan in the first Coppa Italia Derby.

The Nerazzurri are holding out some hope for Benjamin Pavard, who’s nursing an ankle sprain and will be a late call for Tuesday. He got hurt last weekend. Simone Inzaghi indicated an 18/20-day timetable, but he could be rushed back.

Barcelona won’t have Jules Koundé, who limped off in the first round. It’s uncertain whether Robert Lewandowski, who’s dealing with a thigh issue, will be able to recuperate. Coach Hansi Flick sounded optimistic in his latest presser.

Our Take on Lautaro Martinez and Inter

You also need luck with injuries to win in the Champions League, and one of their few transfer market missteps, the lack of a real third banana up front, could cost them dearly, as the Blaugrana defense is vulnerable if attacked.