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Barca's UCL Goalkeeper Dilemma

Apr 30, 2025

Barcelona's back-up goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny will keep his place in the starting eleven, in tomorrow morning's Champions League first-leg semifinal against Inter Milan. 

This was confirmed by boss Hansi Flick, after their main goalkeeper Marc Andre Ter Stegen recovered from his serious knee injury.  

Szczesny came out of retirement to play for Barca, after Ter Stegen picked up the injury back in September.  

Meanwhile, Barca's Robert Lewndowski will remain on the sidelines due to his hamstring injury.

Inter attacker Marcus Thuram is a doubt due to a thigh problem.  

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PSG's Ousmane Dembele has played down any serious injury concerns, after he was substituted in this morning's Champions League semifinal win over Arsenal.  

Meanwhile boss Luis Enrique says Dembele will undergo scans later today, but for now he remains a doubt for the return leg next week.  

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Former Juventus boss Max Allegri is the latest name to be linked with Real Madrid, if the Spanish giants decide to part ways with Carlo Ancelotti.  

It's believed that Real will try to sign the Italian if they fail in their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso.  

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And Goh Jin Wei's coach reckons that the Malaysian women's singles shuttler should be rested for tomorrow's final Sudirman Cup group match against Japan, and instead play her in the quarterfinals.  

The 25-year-old has yet to return to her best, since coming back from a chronic stomach condition, and continues to suffer from cramps after matches.