CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2024/25
Lautaro Martínez, a danger to the 'culé' defense! Discover his impact on the Barça-Inter match
Published New:29/04/2025 - 22:13h
Updated New:29/04/2025 - 22:13h
Lautaro Martínez has scored 8 goals in the current Champions League. Discover the reasons why the Argentine striker is Inter's main offensive weapon against Barça
FC Barcelona and Inter Milan open the UEFA Champions League semi-finals this Wednesday in Montjuïc. For the 'nerazzurri', Lautaro Martínez, their captain and goalscorer, will once again be the main offensive weapon to hurt the 'culé' defense.
This season, the Argentine has 21 goals and 6 assists in 46 matches with Simone Inzaghi's team. In the Champions League, he has accumulated 8 goals in 11 matches and comes from scoring 1 goal in each match against Bayern Munich in the quarter-final tie.
Against Barça, however, the player from Bahía Blanca has not had much fortune in the Champions League since his arrival at Inter in the summer of 2018.
Even so, due to his physical power, striking ability, and capacity to draw defenders, the Inter 'crack' will be a tough rival for the 'azulgrana' central defensive duo, probably made up of Pau Cubarsí and Iñigo Martínez.
- ℹ️ Lineups: the possible starting XIs for FC Barcelona and Inter Milan: SEE
🥅Lautaro Martínez: goals and key performances against Barça
Lautaro Martínez visited the Camp Nou for the first time in 2018. In the third matchday of the group stage, the Catalans won authoritatively by 2-0. In the return match in Milan, both teams would draw 1-1.
The following season, 19-20, both teams faced each other again in the group stage. Barça won both matches by 2-1, and on matchday 2 in Catalonia, Martínez scored in the 3rd minute of a match where the 'culés' came back thanks to a double from Luis Suárez.
Finally, in 22-23, Inter took revenge against a Barcelona that would end up being eliminated. In Milan, the 'nerazzurri' won by the narrowest of margins (1-0). Afterwards, in a great match at Camp Nou, the Italians salvaged a draw that left Xavi Hernández's team on the brink of the abyss.
Lautaro shone with 1 goal and 1 assist in the draw (3-3) at Camp Nou. Dembélé and Lewandowski (double) scored for Barça, while Barella and Gosens completed the scoring for an Inter that, in the two previous seasons, finished third in the group.
Thus, the Argentine striker has a couple of goals and assists in 6 matches against the 'azulgrana' team, where he has accumulated 3 defeats, 2 draws, and only 1 victory.
⚽Lautaro Martínez's matches against Barcelona:
- Group stage 2018-19 - matchday 3: Barça 2-0 Inter.
- Group stage 2018-19 - matchday 4: Inter 1-1 Barça.
- Group stage 2019-20 - matchday 2: Barça 2-1 Inter. (scored 1 goal).
- Group stage 2019-20 - matchday 6: Inter 1-2 Barça.
- Group stage 2022-23 - matchday 3: Inter 1-0 Barça.
- Group stage 2022-23 - matchday 4: Barça 3-3 Inter. (scored 1 goal).
| Matches | Victories | Draws | Defeats | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
📌Barça had Lautaro in their sights on several occasions
The Argentine striker, moreover, is one of the footballers who came very close to signing for the 'azulgrana' team. However, various factors prevented the current Inter captain from wearing the 'culé' shirt.
In 2018, Barça was in contact with the club where he trained and debuted as a professional, Racing de Avellaneda, but finally the 'nerazzurri' moved ahead in the negotiations.
Lautaro went to Milan in exchange for 25 million euros, and Barça decided to place their trust in Coutinho and Dembélé as companions for Leo Messi and Luis Suárez in attack.
In 2020, after 'Lucho's' departure, Martínez was once again rumored as a reinforcement for the Catalans. However, the financial crisis caused by the covid-19 pandemic closed the door to 'top' signings.
At that time, Inter had set his release price at 100 'kilos', an unaffordable amount for a Barça that that season had Messi, Dembélé, and Messi as offensive references.
Thus, Lautaro Martínez ended up staying at the 'nerazzurri' team, where he already has 150 goals in 328 official matches. His contract ends in 2029, but at 27 years old, he still does not rule out trying his luck at another European giant. Will Barça have him in their sights again in the future?
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