Tonight, the Montjuïc Stadium will host the first leg of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League semi-final between Barcelona and Inter Milan. This match is a battle between two of Europe’s best teams, both in contention for their respective league titles and among the top four in the Champions League group stage.

Although Barcelona may have the upper hand due to their outstanding performance this season, it should not be forgotten that Inter has been a highly competitive team in Italy and Europe for years. One of their main strengths is their defensive line, as Inter has conceded only five goals, making them the best defense in the Champions League.

The Problem in the Final Minutes
Under Simone Inzaghi, Inter has conceded 33 goals in 34 Serie A matches. While this statistic is not bad on its own, there is a hidden issue: One-third of the goals conceded by the Nerazzurri have come in the final minutes of matches.

According to data, 11 of the 33 goals conceded by Inter have been scored after the 76th minute. If we extend the timeframe to the last half-hour, the statistics become even more concerning: 17 of the 34 goals conceded have come after the 61st minute. The situation is similar in the Champions League, where three of the five goals conceded by Inter have been scored in the final 15 minutes of matches.

Nicolò Barella, one of Inter’s pillars, admitted that the team needs to improve in this area: “We need to understand the reasons behind this problem. Otherwise, we won’t achieve our goals.”

Barcelona’s Late Goals
Inter’s weakness in the final moments of matches could be more evident against a Barcelona side that has excelled in attack this season. Under Hans-Dieter Flick, Barcelona has also scored easily in the closing stages. Of Barcelona’s 89 goals in La Liga, 21 have been scored after the 76th minute, and of their 37 goals in the Champions League, four have come in the final quarter-hour.