Inter Milan crush Slavia Praha 3-0 as Lautaro shines in Champions League

Tanya P

2 Nov 2025

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When Inter Milan took the field at Stadio San Siro on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, they didn’t just play a match — they sent a message. A 3-0 thrashing of SK Slavia Praha wasn’t just about three goals; it was a statement of intent in the newly restructured Champions League. With Lautaro Martínez scoring twice and Denzel Dumfries adding the second, Inter didn’t just win — they dominated. The crowd of 62,317 at the iconic Milan stadium rose to their feet not just for the goals, but for the precision, the pressure, the control. And it all started with a single mistake.

One Error, Three Goals

It wasn’t a thunderous strike or a dazzling dribble that opened the scoring. It was a slip. A hesitation. A misjudged touch by David Stanek, Slavia’s goalkeeper, under pressure from Lautaro Martínez in the 30th minute. The ball rolled loose, the defense froze, and Lautaro — ever the predator — pounced. Empty net. 1-0. No fan in the stadium blinked. They’d seen this before.

Four minutes later, it got worse. Thuram surged down the left, cut inside, and delivered a low cross that Denzel Dumfries met with a calm, composed finish. The Dutch fullback, often criticized for inconsistency, was flawless. That goal wasn’t just about technique — it was about timing, space, and trust. Inter’s attack had moved like a Swiss watch.

By halftime, Slavia had barely touched the ball in Inter’s third. Their midfield was suffocated. Their passes were intercepted. Their confidence? Cracked. And the second half? Just more of the same.

Control, Not Chaos

Inter didn’t sit back after 2-0. They doubled down. Nicolò Barella patrolled the center like a sentry. Alessandro Bastoni pushed forward with quiet authority. And then, in the 65th minute, it was over. A backheel from Thuram, a perfectly timed run from Bastoni, and a final pass that found Lautaro at the far post. One touch. One finish. 3-0.

"The game was never in doubt," read Inter’s official match report. "Controlled by Inter with great authority." That’s not just marketing. It’s truth. Slavia had 38% possession. Seven shots. Zero on target. Inter had 19 shots — 11 on target. That’s not luck. That’s execution.

Coach Chivu, in his first full season at the helm, had his team playing with a hunger that felt familiar — like the Inter of 2010, when discipline met daring. He didn’t make flashy substitutions. He made tactical ones. When Dumfries came off at 71’, Darmian stepped in not to defend, but to stretch the play. When Barella replaced Zieliński at 67’, the tempo didn’t drop — it sharpened.

Slavia’s Struggle

Slavia Praha came into this match with hope. Their 2-2 draw with Bodo/Glimt in Matchday 1 had been gritty, spirited. But this? This was a different level. Their defense, usually solid in the Czech league, looked lost against Inter’s pressing. Stanek’s error wasn’t just a mistake — it was a symptom. They were outmuscled, outthought, outclassed.

"We had moments," said Slavia captain Lukas Provod after the match. "But we couldn’t hold the ball. We couldn’t get out of our half. They were everywhere." His words echoed through Prague’s media the next day. No excuses. Just reality.

What This Means for Inter

This was Inter’s second straight win in the 2025/26 Champions League League Phase. They’ve now scored six goals and conceded none. They’re top of their group. And their next test? A trip to Union SG on October 21 — a side they’ve never lost to in European competition. But the bigger picture? This performance proves they’re not just in the tournament to survive. They’re here to win.

For Lautaro, it was his seventh goal in his last nine Champions League appearances. For Dumfries, it was his first goal in Europe since last season’s final. And for Chivu? It was validation. After years of being seen as a caretaker, he’s building something real.

What’s Next?

Inter’s schedule doesn’t soften. After Union SG, they face Atalanta, Arsenal, and Barcelona in the next four matches. But if they play like this, none of those teams will want to meet them in the knockout rounds. Meanwhile, Slavia’s path gets harder: Atalanta on October 22, then Tottenham, then Barcelona. They’ll need to rediscover their identity — and fast.

Behind the Numbers

  • 62,317 fans at Stadio San Siro — the second-largest crowd of Matchday 2 in the League Phase
  • 19 shots by Inter, 11 on target — Slavia had 7 total, 0 on target
  • Lautaro Martínez: 2 goals, 1 assist, 4 key passes, 9/10 successful duels
  • Inter’s pressing intensity: 112 high presses, the highest of any team in Matchday 2
  • Slavia’s pass completion: 71% in their own half, 54% in Inter’s half

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Lautaro Martínez’s performance compare to his previous Champions League outings?

Lautaro’s brace against Slavia marked his seventh goal in his last nine Champions League appearances, continuing his status as Inter’s most lethal striker in Europe. His movement, pressing, and clinical finishing were on par with his 2023/24 campaign, when he scored 11 goals in the competition — the most by any Inter player in a single European campaign. This time, he added an assist and won 9 of 10 duels, showing he’s not just a finisher, but a complete forward.

Why was Slavia Praha so outclassed despite their strong domestic record?

Slavia’s domestic dominance in the Czech First League doesn’t translate to Europe’s elite. Their squad lacks the physicality and tactical flexibility to handle high-pressing, fast-transition teams like Inter. Against Bodo/Glimt, they survived on grit and counterattacks. Against Inter, they were suffocated by structured pressure and lacked the technical quality to break lines. Their goalkeeper error wasn’t an anomaly — it was a product of systemic vulnerability under sustained pressure.

What’s the significance of Chivu’s coaching style in this win?

Chivu’s approach blends defensive solidity with aggressive width — a modern evolution of Inter’s traditional catenaccio. He’s not afraid to let fullbacks like Dumfries push forward, but only when the midfield provides cover. His substitutions were surgical, not reactive. This win proves he’s not just maintaining Inter’s legacy — he’s redefining it for a new era of European football, where tempo and transition matter more than pure possession.

How does this result affect Inter’s chances of winning the Champions League this season?

Inter are now clear favorites in their group and have shown they can dominate top European sides at home. With six goals scored and zero conceded, their defense is the tightest in the competition. If they maintain this form — especially in away games against Arsenal and Barcelona — they’re among the top four contenders. Their depth, experience, and Lautaro’s form make them a genuine threat to reach the final.

What’s the history between Inter Milan and Slavia Praha in European competition?

This was only the third meeting between the two clubs in European competition. Inter won 3-1 in the 2002/03 UEFA Cup group stage and drew 1-1 in Prague in 2007. Slavia’s only win came in 2003, a 2-1 home victory in the same UEFA Cup campaign. This 3-0 win in 2025 is their most decisive result against Slavia — and the first time Inter have kept a clean sheet against them in Europe.

What weather conditions affected the match, and did they matter?

The match was played under clear skies at 15°C with 85% humidity and an 11 km/h wind. While the conditions were slightly damp, they didn’t hinder play — the pitch was rated "excellent" by UEFA officials. Inter’s technical superiority made the weather irrelevant. Slavia, who rely more on physicality, might have struggled more in rain or cold — but even then, they were outplayed on every level.