By Martin Graham
Inter Milan booked their place in the Champions League final after a breathtaking 4-3 victory over Barcelona, securing a 7-6 aggregate win across two legs. It was a match filled with drama, unpredictability, and non-stop action – one that will go down as one of the most memorable semi-finals in the tournament’s history.
The Italian champions had already played out a 3-3 thriller in Spain, coming back from two goals down twice. In the return leg at the San Siro, Inter struck early again and led 2-0 at halftime, putting them 5-3 ahead overall. However, Barcelona responded with three goals in the second half, including Raphinha’s late strike, which gave them the aggregate lead for the first time.
But just minutes later, Francesco Acerbi – scoring his first goal in European competition at 37 – brought the tie level again, forcing extra time. It was substitute Davide Frattesi who eventually broke the deadlock, netting the decisive goal to send Inter through as the stadium erupted in celebration.
The second leg produced one of the highest-scoring semi-finals in Champions League history, matching the 13-goal tally of Liverpool’s 7-6 win over Roma in 2018. More than 70,000 fans inside the San Siro witnessed a rollercoaster that left players and supporters emotionally spent.
Alan Shearer, watching the action live, summed up the spectacle by calling it “pure entertainment” and a “very special” event. “We expected a good game,” he said, “but this was something else.”
Despite being known for their defensive solidity throughout the tournament, Inter had to abandon that identity against Barcelona. They conceded as many goals over these two matches as they had in all previous Champions League fixtures this season. Yann Sommer, who had kept seven clean sheets up to this point, was tested repeatedly, with Barcelona registering 22 shots – 10 of them on target – on the night.
Still, Inter’s resolve carried them through. Their players remained on the pitch long after the final whistle to acknowledge the passionate home support, many of whom were already making plans for the final in Munich on 31 May.
It has been 15 years since Inter last lifted the Champions League trophy, and no Italian team has won it since that 2010 triumph. With Manchester City and Real Madrid eliminated, Inter now find themselves in a strong position to end that drought.
Simone Inzaghi’s side will meet either Paris St-Germain or Arsenal in the final. PSG currently lead 1-0 ahead of the second leg in France. Inzaghi praised his squad for their determination, saying the players delivered something “extraordinary” across four demanding matches against elite opposition in Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
Denzel Dumfries was one of the standout performers over the two games, contributing two goals and three assists. Frattesi, the match-winner in extra time, was overwhelmed by the emotion. “I celebrated so hard my head was spinning,” he said, reflecting on the magnitude of the moment.
With their unbeaten streak at home in Europe now standing at 16 games, Inter Milan have momentum, belief, and history on their side as they prepare for another shot at continental glory.
