The UEFA Champions League semi-final clash between Inter Milan and Barcelona turned the internet upside down with seven goals in a single game. In the first leg of the semi-final, Barcelona and Inter Milan played out a thrilling 3-3 draw, with the Spanish side coming from behind to get back into the game. The second leg started in similar fashion, with Inter Milan striking first through Lautaro Martínez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
After the break, Barcelona’s right-back Eric García scored, and moments later Dani Olmo added a second to level the aggregate score. With only minutes left, Raphinha pounced on a rebound to score, momentarily sending Barça through to the final. Desperate for an equalizer, Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi pushed center-back Francesco Acerbi into the attack. In one of the last efforts of the match, the ball fell to Acerbi in the box, and he found the back of the net, dramatically tying the game.
Going to overtime, Davide Fratesi scored the fourth goal to send Inter Milan to the UEFA Champions League final, and the internet went wild. This became the semi-final game with most goals scored ever, surpassing Liverpool vs Roma in 2018 (12). Other than that, all goals in Barcelona vs Inter Milan were scored by 12 different players.
Inter reached their second Champions League final in three years by beating Barcelona in the most extraordinary of circumstances, with Simone Inzaghi's side beating the Blaugrana 4-3 in Tuesday's second leg at San Siro to progress 7-6 on aggregate. As in the two teams' first meeting at Montjuic, Inter went 2-0 up, with Lautaro Martinez breaking the deadlock before Hakan Calhanoglu doubled the hosts' advantage with a penalty just before the break.
It was Barca, though, who looked certain to go through after second-half goals from Eric Garcia, Dani Olmo, and Raphinha. However, Inter threw Francesco Acerbi up front for the final few minutes and their 37-year-old centre-back netted a stunning injury-time equaliser. Davide Fratesi then put the Nerazzurri back ahead with his fine finish in the first half of extra-time.
Federico Dimarco, who played a role in the game, was asked about the win and he was speechless about the tie and how it unfolded. He told Sky, via TMW: “I have no words for what happened tonight, an incredible game recovered and a truly beautiful Champions League night.” The Italian was asked about Simone Inzaghi and his approach to the game and his role in the tie. He had big words for the manager. “He is our leader, he shows us the way to go and he always does it well even in difficult moments. We must congratulate him, after the Scudetto lost against Milan it was all uphill.”
The Nerazzurri have reached a Champions League final for the second time in three seasons, having done that in 2022 under Inzaghi himself. Tomorrow’s winner in the game involving Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain will determine their opponent in the final.
As fans around the world celebrate this historic moment, the football community is buzzing with excitement over what this means for Inter Milan's future. The performances of players like Lautaro Martínez and Davide Fratesi have been nothing short of spectacular, and their resilience in the face of adversity showcases the heart of this team. With the stage set for the final, all eyes will be on who emerges victorious from the clash between PSG and Arsenal.
