MILAN (AP) — Barcelona is getting a boost in attack with the return of Robert Lewandowski against Inter Milan for the Champions League semifinal second leg on Tuesday.
Lewandowski was included in the squad on Monday for the trip to Milan after being sidelined for about two weeks because of a left thigh injury.
The striker missed four games, including last week’s thrilling first leg against Inter in Barcelona, a 3-3 draw.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said Lewandowski would start from the bench, however.
“We also spoke yesterday, everything goes on in the right way and he’s good, much better than we expected and he’s ready for the bench,” Flick said on Monday.
“So it’s when we need him, maybe he can come in. So, it’s like that.”
The Polish striker was injured on April 19 in a La Liga match against Celta Vigo.
“After two weeks working on his recovery and training with the squad on Sunday, he has been given the all clear to return to action,” Barcelona said.
The 36-year-old Lewandowski is having one of his best seasons with Barcelona, having scored 40 goals in total, including 11 in the Champions League. He leads La Liga with 25 goals, one more than Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé.
Flick rested nearly all of his regular starters in the 2-1 win at Valladolid in La Liga on Saturday. With four rounds remaining, Barcelona has a four-point lead over Madrid ahead of next Sunday’s clasico.
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