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In The Zone: How Lautaro Martínez's complete game inspired Inter

UEFA Technical Observer Rafa Benítez analyses the impact of Inter forward Lautaro Martínez as Inter progressed past Bayern.

Lautaro Martínez starred as Inter progressed past Bayern in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals
Lautaro Martínez starred as Inter progressed past Bayern in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals UEFA via Getty Images

Lautaro Martínez left the Stadio San Siro pitch on Wednesday holding the Player of the Match trophy and expressing great pride in the Inter side that he captains. "Inter have personality, heart and head," the forward declared after their 2-2 draw with Bayern had completed an overall 4-3 Champions League quarter-final triumph. "Today at every moment we suffered but we showed we're made for big things."

As the following analysis brought to you by FedEx will underline, one of the reasons why Inter can dream big is the presence of Martínez himself – and not just for the scoring instincts that brought their equalising goal.

FedEx Performance Zone

As UEFA Technical Observer Rafa Benítez said, the 27-year-old's overall game was just as impressive. "Lautaro scored an important goal but there was also his clever movement, his ability to play 1v1, his understanding with Marcus Thuram and the midfielders, and his hard work for the team," he explained. "He was using his body well, trying to hold up the ball, trying to flick it on and also winning fouls."

The following video offers examples of all these qualities, which provide a lesson to young players about what is required for a player operating in this position at the elite level.

In The Zone: Lautaro Martínez's all-round game

The importance of hold-up play

The first clip of Martínez in action exhibits both his hold-up play and his dribbling ability as he drops deep then turns and ghosts past Leon Goretzka. He showcases his strength in the way he holds off Joshua Kimmich and then his awareness of the team-mates around him with the pass out wide.

"He uses his clever movement to link with the midfielders and create something in attack," said Benítez, citing the Argentine's awareness of the run of Federico Dimarco. This connection with the wide players, he added, was important on an evening when "Inter's wing-backs were involved in the majority of situations in attack. The threat of the strikers allowed them to have more time on the ball."

Elaborating on Martínez’s hold-up play, Benítez highlighted the importance for a forward to be able to perform this task in games when their team have less of the ball (39% in Inter's case). "When a team are under pressure and have to play long, they need you to hold the ball. We saw how Martínez can be in a good position and produce good movements to be sure the midfielders are close to him, in order that he can keep the ball for them or pass the ball to them straight away."

The match as it happened

An understanding with Thuram

The next facet to focus on is Martínez's partnership with Thuram. This earned praise from the UEFA Technical Observer Group after the first leg, and we see another example of their interplay in the second clip of the video. As Henrikh Mkhitaryan's pass finds the Frenchman, Martínez is supporting him close by, well placed to receive the ball from Thuram before playing him in behind the Bayern defence.

"His linking with Thuram was good because they each know where the other is and what their strengths are," said Benítez. "They were 2v2 with the Bayern centre-backs and he knows Thuram is quick."

As Inter skipper, Martínez also helped set the tone with his pressing from the front. This is a vital aspect of the job of a forward today, working hard off the ball, and clip three shows him attempting to block goalkeeper Jonas Urbig's passing lanes as Bayern build and though it is late in the game, he then races back to try to stop Eric Dier's advance up the left. "Even when he was tired, he was following defenders and helping his team in defence," said Benítez.

Finally, as the video concludes, we come to the goal with which he made it 1-1 – his second of the tie, his eighth in this Champions League campaign and 21st overall in 2024/25. It is an instinctive strike which emphasises his quick reactions and Bayern coach Vincent Kompany recognised his danger when, reflecting afterwards on Inter's two goals from corners, he said: "They have got a real threat on set pieces as well with poachers in the box with Martínez." For Inter, that 'poaching' has certainly been productive: with his strike on Wednesday, Martínez became the first foreign player to reach the 150-goal milestone in a Nerazzurri shirt.

How to lead the line like Lautaro

  • Clever movement
  • Hold-up and link play
  • Dribbling ability
  • Finishing
  • Defending from the front

Training tips from Benítez

"When you have a striker like Lautaro, it's important they use their arms and their body – using their low centre of gravity to make sure they keep their balance. Also, they have to make sure where their defender is and to make sure they're in a good position. But they also need to be aware of the ball. If they're just aware of the defender, they can lose control of the ball so they have to focus on both. And in Inter's case, playing with two strikers, they have to know where their team-mate is.

"As for how to train that with a player, you can show them videos of a player like Lautaro and then, on the training pitch, put a lot of balls to them – on the floor, in the air, and use centre-backs to challenge them. And as well as the talent of the player, you also have to know the character as they have to be brave to challenge the big centre-backs."