Champions League: Will Inter Milan, the best defensive team in the competition, resist Barcelona's best attack?
by Thobelani Moyo | by Cydias Aujard
Barcelona's Attacking Prowess: Is This Europe's Merciless Attack?
Barcelona is having a terrific season under the seasoned manager, Hansi Flick, who has an 88% win rate in the UEFA Champions League from managing Bayern Munich and the current team.
So far, they have clinched the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup trophies and remain in contention to win the other two silverware—UEFA Champions League and La Liga.
Their rise to prominence has been well reported and is mainly centered around their attacking prowess. This is also one of the focal points of our Barcelona v Inter Milan prediction. The numbers are ridiculous, as a total of 155 goals have been scored across all competitive competitions this season.
In the UEFA Champions League, they are the best team when it comes to scoring goals. So far, they have scored a whopping 37 goals in 12 games, and on average, that's 3.08 goals per game.
Ballon d'Or candidate Raphina is the reason behind these awesome numbers for Barcelona in this competition. The Brazilian international has been in red-hot form, scoring 12 goals and providing seven assists. He has equaled Lionel Messi's 19 involved goals in the 2011-12 Champions League season. There are still more games to play, and the 28-year-old is on his way to breaking even more records.
Barcelona's Attacking Stats (UEFA Champions League 2024-25)
To better appreciate FC Barcelona's attacking power, here are a few stats to help contextualize what we're talking about:
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 37 |
| Avg. Goals per Game | 3.08 |
| Avg. attacks per game | 48 |
| Avg. attempts on target per Game | 6.5 |
| Top Scorer | Raphinha (12) |
As one can see, the numbers are both impressive and frightening. They testify to the real domination of the Blaugrana, who continually create chances for themselves in the Champions League.
Inter Milan's Stonewall Defense: Is This Europe's Tightest Defense?
Inter Milan was among the three teams in Europe favored by top online betting sites to win a treble this season. However, a misstep in the Coppa Italia semi final where they lost 4-1 on aggregate to bitter rivals AC Milan, ended such hopes.
Still, a double will be considered a huge achievement for the Milan-based side, specifically the UEFA Champions League crown. Bookmakers no longer have much faith in them to win the Champions League and have taken a step back, labeling them as outsiders.
This is not just another match for them—it's a revisit to history. 15 years ago, in the same competition and round, Nerazzurri triumphed 3-2 on aggregate over Barcelona (at the time managed by head coach Pep Guardiola). It was also the same year in which they clinched their third Champions League trophy for the first time in 45 years.
Forget about attacking prowess. That's more of Barcelona's thing and not Inter Milan's suit. Nerazzurri have been doing well in defense. In fact, they have been a stonewall defense, particularly in the UEFA Champions League, thanks to head coach Simone Inzaghi's disciplined defensive system.
In the Champions League, they have conceded just five goals in 12 games. They boast the best defensive record in this competition, with Liverpool coming in at second with six goals conceded.
The heart of this defense has been led by the three musketeers, Benjamin Pavard, Francesco Acerbi, and Alessandro Bastoni. However, Benjamin Pavard is set to miss this one because of an ankle injury, meaning Yann Bisseck will be the likely replacement.
Inter Milan's Defensive Stats (UEFA Champions League 2024-25)
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Goals Conceded/Average | 5 (0.42 avg. per match) |
| Clean Sheets/Average | 8 (0.67 avg. per match) |
| Tackles won per game | 8.25 |
| Tackles per Game | 12.75 |
| Interceptions per Game | 8.92 |
Historical Insights: Barcelona vs. Inter Milan (Europe)
Unfortunately, Inter Milan has not fared well against Barcelona in their past meetings. They have met the Spaniards 16 times. However, the number decreases to 12 when talking about their H2H meetings in the UEFA Champions League, where Barcelona has triumphed 6 times, while losing 2 and drawing 4.
Let's have a look at the H2H records between the two teams below:
| Matches played | Barcelona Wins | Inter Milan Wins | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 8 | 3 | 5 |
Star-Studded or Not! The System is the most Important Aspect
Both teams have star-studded players in their squads, but that won't matter much as it all comes down to which system will triumph—offense or defense. Barcelona have adopted an attacking mentality that is out of this world, but their defense has suffered too, as they have been susceptible to many defensive lapses. Inter Milan is not an attacking team, as evidenced by their 1.58 goals per game on average. However, keeping things tight at the back has been their strong suit, and they will use this to their advantage to avoid defeat.
