Inter Milan secured their place in the Champions League final last night after overcoming Barcelona in a thrilling 4-3 extra-time victory, ending a two-legged tie with a 7-6 aggregate score. A spectacular clash, with 13 goals across two matches, that will go down as one of the most dramatic encounters in recent Champions League history.
What unfolded between the Giuseppe Meazza and the first leg at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys is hard to put into words. Two teams gave everything, offering fans a true masterclass in football, filled with intensity, quality, suspense, and constant twists. Inter showed resilience and struck at key moments, while Barcelona, despite their attacking display, were undone by crucial errors and a rival that refused to give up.
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First half: Inter land the first blow
The match kicked off at a frenetic pace. Both sides came out swinging, knowing that this semifinal demanded boldness. Barcelona, sticking to their trademark possession-based, high-pressing style, looked nervy in the opening stages. Their midfield struggled, with neither Pedri nor Dani Olmo able to link up with Raphinha or Lamine Yamal out wide.
Inter, in contrast, played with verticality and intent. In the 20th minute, a turnover by Olmo in midfield sparked a lightning-fast counterattack that Lautaro Martínez finished off with precision: 1-0 to the hosts and the stadium erupted.
The blow didn’t end there. Just before halftime, a clumsy challenge by Pau Cubarsí on Thuram resulted in a penalty. Hakan Çalhanoğlu stepped up and calmly slotted it home, doubling Inter’s lead and sending the Giuseppe Meazza into a frenzy: 2-0, and Inter had one foot in the final.
Second half: Barcelona’s comeback
But football often rewards the brave, and Barcelona refused to surrender. Coach Hansi Flick made tactical adjustments, pushing the lines higher and instructing his team to press relentlessly. The strategy paid off. In the 51st minute, Eric García, stepping up from the back, unleashed a spectacular volley from distance to pull one back.
The goal fired up the visitors, who began to dominate completely. Just ten minutes later, in the 60th minute, Dani Olmo rose to head in a pinpoint cross from Raphinha, making it 2-2 on the night, and 6-5 on aggregate. The tie was alive again.
Lamine Yamal was unstoppable down the flank, tormenting the Inter defense with dazzling dribbles and relentless pace. Simone Inzaghi, feeling the tide turning, brought on fresh legs to steady the ship, managing to regain some control in the final quarter of the match.
But the drama wasn’t over. In the 88th minute, Pedri delivered a perfect through ball to Raphinha, who calmly slotted it past the keeper to make it 3-2 (6-5 on aggregate), and Barcelona looked destined for Munich.
Yet Inter’s spirit refused to die. In stoppage time, with everything to lose, Francesco Acerbi surged forward like a striker and took advantage of a lapse by Ronald Araújo to score a dramatic 3-3 equalizer, sending the match into extra time and leaving Barcelona stunned.
Extra time: home advantage proves decisive
The game had entered a chaotic emotional space where every detail mattered. And in such moments, home advantage can tip the scales. Driven on by their fans, Inter pushed forward. In the 100th minute, Marcus Thuram again got the better of Araújo, delivering a perfect assist to Davide Frattesi, who finished clinically: 4-3, another twist in this surreal tie.
In the second half of extra time, Barcelona gave it their all. Lamine Yamal continued to be a constant threat, slicing through defenders, while Yann Sommer made two crucial saves to deny what seemed like sure goals. Gavi and Pau Víctor were introduced to inject energy, but it wasn’t enough. Inter held on heroically.
A semifinal for the ages
What unfolded last night was more than a football match—it was a tribute to the beauty of the game. Stunning goals, total commitment, and a nail-biting finale. Nights like this are what the Champions League is all about.
Inter will play the final in Munich on May 31, chasing their fourth European crown. Their opponent will be decided tonight between PSG and Arsenal, with the French side leading after a 0-1 win in London.
Whoever joins them, this Champions League edition has already made history. And at the heart of it all was this unforgettable tie between Inter and Barcelona, one that football fans will talk about for years to come.
