The Champions League semi-final first leg between FC Barcelona and Inter Milan ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at Montjuïc. This match was a spectacle that showcased the intensity and unpredictability of top-level football, with both teams exchanging leads in a game that had fans on the edge of their seats.
It took just 40 seconds for Marcus Thuram to set the tone for the evening, scoring the fastest goal in Champions League semi-final history with a brilliant backheel finish from a cross by Denzel Dumfries. This early strike sent shockwaves through the Barcelona crowd, who were left stunned as Inter Milan took a quick lead (0-1).
As the match progressed, the Nerazzurri doubled their advantage in the 21st minute when Dumfries himself scored with a stunning volley, leaving Barcelona trailing 0-2. It was a cold start for the Catalans, who were reeling and needed a response.
The spark came from 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, who displayed remarkable skill and determination. In the 24th minute, Yamal slalomed past several defenders and unleashed a precise shot, bringing Barcelona back into the match at 1-2. His impressive performance was a highlight for the home side, as he continued to threaten the Inter defense throughout the match.
Ferran Torres then equalized for Barcelona just before halftime, scoring in the 38th minute after a well-executed team move that showcased the Blaugranas' attacking prowess. The first half ended with the score tied at 2-2, leaving the match wide open.
After the break, Inter Milan regained their lead in the 63rd minute when Dumfries scored again, this time with a powerful header from a corner kick, making it 2-3. However, just two minutes later, Barcelona struck back again. Raphinha, who had been a constant threat, hit a powerful shot that struck the crossbar, rebounding off the back of Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer and into the net, leveling the score at 3-3.
The intensity of the match continued as both teams pushed for a winner. Inter thought they had taken the lead again in the 75th minute when Henrikh Mkhitaryan found the net, but the goal was disallowed for offside after a VAR review, keeping the score at 3-3.
As the match approached its conclusion, Yamal came close to scoring again, hitting the bar in the 88th minute, further illustrating the frantic nature of the game. The final moments were tense, with both teams unable to find a decisive goal.
In the aftermath of the match, Raphinha expressed his disappointment at conceding so many goals at home, stating, "In playing at home, we feel that we could have gotten a much better result. Once again, we conceded a lot of goals at home. It's unacceptable to let in so many here, but we must also recognize that Inter played very well. The important thing is to leave with a result where anything can still happen. We will prepare much better for next week, going there to try to qualify. We need to stay calm and play our game. We wanted a positive result; we always want to leave here with a victory, but this is not the worst result either."
Alessandro Bastoni of Inter Milan praised his opponents, calling Barcelona "the strongest offensive team in Europe" and said of Yamal, "He is the strongest player in the world. When a player is strong, you have to admit it; you can only compliment him. He is very fast."
Henrikh Mkhitaryan reflected on the challenges they faced, noting, "It was not an easy match. We tried to do our best. It was difficult to hold the ball because Barcelona presses very well. We tried to raise our level in the second half, but we couldn't convert our chances. However, we can be proud of having played a great match, 3-3 here. The match is open. We will try to do better in the return leg and win the match."
This thrilling encounter sets the stage for an exciting second leg at San Siro on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. With everything to play for, both teams will be eager to secure their place in the Champions League final. The intensity and drama of this first leg have left fans eagerly anticipating what promises to be another electrifying match in Lombardy.
As the dust settles on this memorable clash, one thing is clear: the return leg will be a showdown of epic proportions, and both teams will be looking to capitalize on any opportunity that comes their way.
