Marcus Thuram, the essential asset of nerazzurri in the semi-final return of the Champions League

Wednesday April 30, Marcus Thuram set the tone from the 30th^e Second game from the semi-final go to the Champions League between FC Barcelona and Inter Milan. The French striker opened the brand for the Italian team of a “Madjer”, a heel made behind the support foot. Beyond the spectacular aspect of the gesture, this goal is the fastest of the season in the Champions League, but also, at this stage, in the history of competition. He thus launched a crazy match, during which the two teams went blow for eighty minutes, before leaving a parity score (3-3).

At the Giuseppe Meazza stadium – also called San Siro -, in front of 70,000 spectators, Inter Milan will again count on its precious number 9 for the return match, Tuesday May 6 (9 p.m.), especially since its pair of the attack, Lautaro Martinez, remains uncertain. The Argentinian center forward, author of 20 goals and six assists this season, was replaced in the 46^e Minute of the first leg, victim of an elongation of the hamstrings of the left thigh.

During the semi-final to go to Catalonia, Marcus Thuram was returning to the eleven Milanese after an adducting injury. For the fourth time this season, a physical concern had removed the powerful French striker from the land for ten days. Which did not prevent him from scoring his fourth goal in 12 Champions League games – his 18^eall competitions combined, with the Nerazzurri in 2024-2025.

An influence underlined by … his absence

Also the author of nine assists, the international tricolor attacker proves to be a very precious contribution in the offensive animation of his team. If he has not yet reached it, he approaches the objective he set for himself: 20 goals and as many assists per season. An influence put forward during her absence: the beneamata (the “beloved”, the nickname of the inter) scored no goal during the three games she played without him.

Born in Parma (Italy), the eldest son of former French defender Lilian Thuram, world champion in 1998, was trained in Sochaux (Doubs), where he made his professional debut on the wing, in Ligue 2, before joining the elite with Guingamp (2017-2019), then driven by Antoine Kombouaré. After France, head to the German club Borussia Mönchengladbach, where he occupied the tip of the attack during four seasons (2019-2023, 44 goals, 29 assists).

At the end of his contract, Marcus Thuram joined Inter Milan in July 2023. Efficient in his first season in Italy, with 15 goals and 7 assists, he quickly won the affection of the supporters, being in particular a scorer against the Rivals of AC Milan, during the derby which offered his club on the 20ᵉ title of champion of his history.

Complementarity with Lautaro Martinez

Fast and powerful, Marcus Thuram, 27, is illustrated both by his effectiveness in the last gesture as by his intelligence of play. His movements, his in -depth calls and his game in pivot back to the goal make it a complete attacker, which weighs on the opposing defenses. His presence releases precious spaces to his partners, and his complementarity with Lautaro Martinez made sparks in the Champions League as in Serie A, where he is the third top scorer behind Mateo Retagui (24 goals, Atalanta Bergame) and Moise Kean (17 goals, Fiorentina).

Qualities that will not be too much on Tuesday evening, to try to respond to the offensives of FC Barcelona, ​​which can again count on the young Lamine Yamal (17 years old), brilliant on April 30. Judging the Spanish international winger “Unstoppable”Marcus Thuram had joked after the meeting: “A take two of him [pour l’empêcher de faire basculer le match] ? A take-up in eleven maybe… ”

Before dealing with the assaults of Lamine Yamal and the Blaugrana, Marcus Thuram and his partners will always be able to consult the history books. They will remember that in 2010, during the third and last coronation of the Italian team in the most prestigious continental competitions, the Inter had eliminated in the semi-finals … FC Barcelona.