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Ligue 1 McDonalds Influence looms large in Inter vs Barcelona Semi-Final

From Guingamp to San Siro, via Bordeaux and the Camp Nou – how has Ligue 1 McDonald's shaped the stars of Inter Milan and FC Barcelona ahead of their European showdown.
George Boxall
Published on 05/05/2025 at 14:30
2-minute read
Raphinha, Koundé, Thuram, and Pavard - we take a look at the Ligue 1 McDonald's influences in the other UEFA Champions League semi-final this week.

As Inter Milan and FC Barcelona prepare for their Champions League semi-final second leg at San Siro, the fingerprints of French football and Ligue 1 McDonald's can be seen all throughout. 

Inter Milan's journey to this stage has been significantly bolstered by the contributions of their French contingent. Marcus Thuram, formerly of Guingamp, made headlines by scoring the fastest goal in a UEFA Champions League semi-final, netting within 30 seconds during the 3-3 draw in the first leg. His dynamic presence in attack has been instrumental for the Nerazzurri.

Benjamin Pavard honed his skills at Lille before moving to Germany, making 21 appearances for Les Dogues ahead of his move to Stuttgart and his burst onto the international scene at the 2018 World Cup. The Frenchman played for Bayern Munich before joining Inter Milan in 2023. Despite recent ankle concerns, Pavard is expected to return to the starting lineup, providing much-needed stability against a Barcelona offense which ran riot in the first leg.

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Raphinha's Rennes odyssy and Koundé's Bordeaux roots

Raphinha enjoyed a brilliant spell at Stade Rennais before joining Leeds United in the Premier League. In Ligue 1, he refined his flair, one-on-one ability, and pressing intensity—traits now critical to Barcelona's attacking endeavors. This Champions League season, Raphinha has been exceptional, scoring 12 goals and providing 7 assists in 12 appearances, leading the competition in goal contributions.

Though ruled out of the second leg due to injury, Jues Koundé’s influence on Barcelona’s back line has been constant throughout the campaign. A product of FC Girondins de Bordeaux, the France international made 55 appearances for Les Girondins in Ligue 1 McDonald's before moving to Sevilla in 2019. In 2022, Koundé moved to Barcelona and broke into the French national team - he has featured in 12 Champions League matches this season, totaling 1,064 minutes.

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