Barcelona and Inter Milan Share Six-Goal Thriller in UEFA Champions League Semi-Final First Leg
The first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final delivered an instant classic as Barcelona and Inter Milan played out a breathtaking 3-3 draw at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
It took just 30 seconds for Inter to silence the Catalan crowd. Denzel Dumfries whipped in a cross from the right, and Marcus Thuram stunned the hosts with a deft backheel finish to make it 1-0. It was a dream start for the visitors, but Barcelona—currently at the peak of their form under Hansi Flick—were far from rattled.
This night belonged in many ways to Lamine Yamal, who marked his 100th appearance for the club at just 17 years old. The teenage sensation dazzled with his dribbling, drawing comparisons to a young Lionel Messi as he tore down the right flank, frequently surrounded by two or three defenders.
Despite Barcelona's pressure, Inter doubled their lead in the 26th minute. Again it was Dumfries, this time acrobatically turning home a corner to make it 2-0. But the hosts responded immediately, and it was Yamal who brought them back into it—curling a stunning strike into the far corner off the post to reduce the deficit.
The equaliser came shortly after. A slick move ended with Pedri picking out Raphinha, who nodded the ball into the six-yard box for Ferran Torres to tap home. 2-2 by halftime, and the game was wide open.
The second half saw Inter threaten more frequently on the break. Their third goal once again came from a set piece: Dumfries completed a sensational individual performance by heading in his second goal of the night after a mistake by Wojciech Szczęsny.
Barcelona responded yet again. From a corner, Yamal cleverly let the ball run to Raphinha, whose thunderous shot cannoned off the bar, struck Yann Sommer's back and rolled over the line for 3-3.
Both teams had late chances to steal the win. Henrikh Mkhitaryan thought he'd given Inter the lead again, but VAR ruled him offside by a fraction. Moments later, Yamal nearly added a second, his effort clipping the bar.
The match ended 3-3, setting up a tantalising second leg at the San Siro. On this evidence, the return fixture will be another must-watch in this year’s Champions League drama.
2024-25 UEFA Champions League
Barcelona - Inter 3:3 (2:2)
Goals: Thuram M., 1 (0:1); Dumfries, 21 (0:2); Yamal, 24 (1:2); Torres F., 38 (2:2); Dumfries, 63 (2:3); Sommer, 65 (own goal) (3:3)
Barcelona: Szczesny; Cubarsí (Christensen A., 83); Kounde (Garcia E., 42); Martinez In.; Martín (Araujo R., 46); de Jong F.; Olmo (Fermin, 68); Raphinha; Yamal; Pedri (Gavi, 83); Torres F.
Bench: Astralaga; Peña I.; Fort H.; Torre P.; Pau Victor; Fati An.
Yellow Cards: Cubarsí 70
Inter: Sommer; Acerbi; Bastoni; Bisseck; Dimarco (Carlos Augusto, 55); Dumfries (Darmian, 81); Mkhitaryan; Barella; Çalhanoğlu (Frattesi, 71); Martínez L. (Taremi, 46); Thuram M. (Zielinski P., 81)
Bench: Di Gennaro; Martínez J-p; de Vrij; Asllani K.; Zalewski; Arnautovic
Yellow Cards: Çalhanoğlu 59
