Why Thuram is crucial for Inter and Inzaghi

Marcus Thuram returned to the Inter starting XI in the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona on Wednesday, so it’s worth looking over the statistics showing his impact on the squad.

The game at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys kicked off at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT, 21.00 CET) on April 30, because Camp Nou is undergoing intensive restructuring work.

The second leg was played at San Siro on Tuesday, May 6.

There was important team news in the build-up to the opening match match, as while Benjamin Pavard missed out through a sprained ankle, but Thuram returned to the line-up alongside Lautaro Martinez.

It goes without saying that he has been missed in the last few games while he tended to adductor issues, because not only have Inter lost three in a row, they also failed to score a single goal.

Thuram so decisive for Inter attack

The 27-year-old is a key figure in the Inter squad who has contributed 18 goals and nine assists in 47 competitive appearances so far this season.

His impact on the side goes well beyond the simple figures of goals and assists, however, and his return should be reflected in the betting odds for Barcelona vs. Inter on Covers.

When Thuram has been in the team this season, Inter have an average of 2.2 points per game.

That is more than halved to an average of 1 point per match when the France international is out of action.

The statistics are even more alarming when it comes purely to the goals scored by the Nerazzurri.

In those matches with Thuram on the field, Inter average 2.3 goals per game this season, compared to a pitiful 0.3 per fixture in his absence.