Barcelona and Inter Milan played out a pulsating 3-3 draw in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on April 30, 2025, in Catalonia. This thrilling encounter showcased the attacking prowess of both teams, setting the stage for a highly anticipated return leg in Milan next week.
The match kicked off with a stunning start as Marcus Thuram scored the fastest goal in semi-final history just 30 seconds into the game. Inter Milan took advantage of Barcelona's high defensive line, with Thuram executing an outrageous backheel flick past goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, sending shockwaves through the Montjuic Stadium.
Just 20 minutes later, Denzel Dumfries doubled Inter's lead with an acrobatic overhead kick from close range, following a corner taken by Federico Dimarco. Dumfries' performance was remarkable, as he became the first Dutch player to score and assist in a Champions League semi-final since Wesley Sneijder did so for Inter against Barcelona in 2009-10.
Despite being two goals down, Barcelona responded with resilience. The young sensation Lamine Yamal, making his 100th appearance for the club, ignited the comeback with a dazzling solo goal. At just 17 years and 291 days old, Yamal danced through the Inter defense before curling a shot in off the far post, leaving goalkeeper Yann Sommer rooted to the spot.
Barcelona's momentum continued as they leveled the match before halftime. Pedri delivered a precise cross to the back post, where Raphinha headed it down for Ferran Torres to finish neatly from close range, equalizing the score at 2-2.
The second half saw more drama as Dumfries scored again, heading in his second goal of the night, putting Inter back ahead at 3-2. However, the lead was short-lived. Just moments later, Raphinha struck a thunderous shot that hit the crossbar and ricocheted off Sommer into the net, leveling the match once more.
This match became only the second Champions League semi-final to see at least four goals scored in the first 38 minutes, a testament to the attacking flair on display. Barcelona dominated possession with 72% and took 19 shots, but Inter's quick counterattacks proved to be equally effective.
Post-match reactions highlighted the excitement of the encounter. Denzel Dumfries, who was awarded Player of the Match, remarked, "A crazy game in the end. Both teams fought for the win and I think 3-3 is a fair result. Now we’re looking forward to the next matches."
Henrikh Mkhitaryan, reflecting on the chaos of the match, stated, "It was a great game to watch but not to play because it was very hard! We've done our best; we could’ve done even better but it is football, and anything can happen. Unfortunately, we couldn’t keep the 3-2 scoreline."
Barcelona's Raphinha expressed a mix of disappointment and optimism, saying, "Our feeling is that we could have had a much better result. We’ve conceded a lot of goals again, at home, which is unacceptable. But we also have to admit that Inter played very well; they are very strong at corners. We tried our best, but the important thing is we have a result where anything can still happen. We’ll prepare much better for next week."
As the teams prepare for the second leg at San Siro on May 6, 2025, the stakes could not be higher. Both teams will be eager to secure a place in the final, making for a thrilling conclusion to this semi-final tie.
In total, the match statistics reflected the intensity of the encounter: Barcelona had 72% possession, 19 shots, and 9 shots on target, while Inter managed 28% possession with 7 shots and 3 on target. The match ratings for players varied, with Yamal earning a standout score of 9/10 for his impactful performance, while Dumfries received a rating of 10/10 for his two goals and assist.
With both teams showing their attacking capabilities, the second leg promises to be an exciting showdown as they vie for a place in the Champions League final. Fans and pundits alike are eager to see how this thrilling tie unfolds next week.
