Inter Milan edge past Barcelona in epic semi-final to reach UEFA Champions League final
Inter Milan are heading to the UEFA Champions League final after an unforgettable night at the San Siro, where they edged out Barcelona 4-3 in the second leg, sealing a 7-6 aggregate victory in one of the most dramatic semi-finals in recent memory.
After the 3-3 thriller in the first leg at the Estadi Olímpic, few expected the goal frenzy to continue. Both teams went above and beyond, serving up a second-leg spectacle that rivalled — and arguably outshone — the first meeting.
Two goals up again – Inter strike first
It was Inter who struck first, pressing high and punishing a sloppy Barcelona transition. A loose touch from Frenkie de Jong invited pressure, and Federico Dimarco quickly sparked a sweeping move that ended with Lautaro Martínez tapping into an open goal.
Martínez — once heavily linked with a move to Barça — would once again haunt the Catalans. Just before half-time, the Argentine striker burst into the box and collided with Pau Cubarsí. Referee Szymon Marciniak waved play on initially, but VAR intervened. The penalty was awarded, and Hakan Çalhanoğlu made no mistake. 2-0 Inter.
Barcelona fight back – again
Barcelona responded with intensity. Just like in the first leg, the La Liga leaders erased a two-goal deficit in just 15 minutes. First, Eric García fired home from box, and then Dani Olmo punished Inter's lapse in concentration inside the box — 2-2, game on.
With momentum on their side, Barça pressed for more. They created several clear chances, but Yann Sommer stood tall. The Swiss keeper produced seven saves, at least three of them world-class.
Twists, turns… and a thunderous finish
In the 88th minute, Raphinha saw his first effort parried, but made no mistake with the second — giving Barcelona the lead in the tie for the first time. With just minutes left, it looked like Inter were done.
But they weren’t. Denzel Dumfries, outstanding across both legs, burst down the right and crossed for Francesco Acerbi to smash home a dramatic equaliser — 3-3!
Extra-time beckoned, and then came the winner. In the 99th minute, substitute Davide Frattesi found just enough space on the right to slot into the far corner, sending San Siro into raptures — 4-3 on the night, 7-6 on aggregate.
Final destination: Munich
Exhausted but unbroken, Barcelona pushed until the final whistle — but the rain, fatigue, and brilliance of Sommer kept them at bay. Inter Milan now await the winner of the second semi-final between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, with the French side holding a narrow 1-0 lead.
2024-25 UEFA Champions League
Inter - Barcelona 4:3 (2:0)
Goals: Martínez L., 22 (1:0); Çalhanoğlu, 45 (penalty) (2:0); Garcia E., 54 (2:1); Olmo, 60 (2:2); Raphinha, 88 (2:3); Acerbi, 90 (3:3); Frattesi, 99 (4:3)
Inter: Sommer; Acerbi; Bastoni; Bisseck (Darmian, 71); Dimarco (Carlos Augusto, 55); Dumfries (de Vrij, 108); Mkhitaryan (Frattesi, 79); Barella; Çalhanoğlu (Zalewski, 79); Martínez L. (Taremi, 71); Thuram M.
Bench: Di Gennaro; Martínez J-p; Asllani K.; Zielinski P.; Arnautovic
Yellow Cards: Çalhanoğlu 37; Acerbi 90; Carlos Augusto 91; Bastoni 118
Barcelona: Szczesny; Garcia E. (Fort H., 98); Cubarsí (Pau Victor, 106); Martín; Martinez In. (Araujo R., 76); de Jong F.; Olmo (Fermin, 83); Raphinha; Yamal; Pedri (Gavi, 106); Torres F. (Lewandowski, 90)
Bench: Astralaga; Peña I.; Christensen A.; Fati An.
Yellow Cards: Martinez In. 51
