In a thrilling encounter at the San Siro, Inter Milan triumphed over FC Barcelona with a dramatic 4-3 victory in extra time, securing their place in the Champions League final with a stunning 7-6 aggregate win. The match, held on May 6, 2025, was a rollercoaster of emotions, showcasing incredible resilience from both teams.
Inter Milan's Davide Frattesi emerged as the hero of the night, scoring the decisive goal in the 99th minute. His superb finish came after a brilliant run by Marcus Thuram, who set him up perfectly. "I don't know what happened tonight. I'm lucky I managed to finish the game; I screamed so much that I saw everything black," Frattesi told Sky Sport, reflecting on the intensity of the match.
The game began with Inter dominating the first half. Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring in the 21st minute, capitalizing on a counterattack. Just before halftime, Hakan Calhanoglu doubled their lead by converting a penalty, leaving the score at 2-0 as the teams headed into the break.
However, the second half saw a remarkable turnaround from Barcelona. Eric Garcia ignited the comeback with a goal just nine minutes after the restart, followed closely by Dani Olmo, who leveled the score six minutes later. The Catalans were on fire, and in the 87th minute, Raphinha appeared to have secured the win for Barcelona, putting them ahead 3-2 and sending their fans into a frenzy.
But Inter was not done yet. With time running out, they pushed forward desperately for an equalizer. Denzel Dumfries found the 37-year-old Francesco Acerbi inside the box, and Acerbi, who had never scored in European competition before, fired a first-time effort into the net in the third minute of stoppage time. This incredible goal sent the match into extra time, with the score tied at 3-3.
In the extra period, both teams battled fiercely, but it was Frattesi who delivered the knockout blow. After receiving a pass from Thuram, he expertly curled the ball into the bottom corner, sending the San Siro crowd into raptures. Inter’s goalkeeper, Yann Sommer, played a crucial role throughout the match, making two world-class saves from Barcelona's young star, Lamine Yamal, to keep his team in the game.
Inter Milan's victory marks their return to the Champions League final, where they will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal, who are set to play their semifinal match on May 7, 2025. The final will take place in Munich on May 31, 2025. This will be Inter's first chance at the title since they lost to Manchester City in the 2023 final.
After the match, Inter's coach, Simone Inzaghi, praised his players for their extraordinary performances against two of Europe’s elite teams. "My players have been extraordinary; they've put out there two monstrous performances to get to this final," he said. Inzaghi emphasized the importance of their upcoming match, acknowledging the challenge posed by either PSG or Arsenal.
For Barcelona, the defeat is a bitter pill to swallow, especially after their recent triumph in the Copa del Rey, where they defeated Real Madrid in extra time. Defender Eric Garcia expressed the team's disappointment, stating, "Football has been very cruel to us. We were down 2-0 again, and the character this team showed was remarkable. We are a team full of young players and this has been a great year. We still have the [Spanish] league to play for."
As the dust settles on this thrilling semifinal, the focus shifts to the final showdown in Munich, where Inter Milan will aim to capture their fourth Champions League title and their first in 15 years. The excitement surrounding their journey continues to build, and fans will be eagerly anticipating their next challenge.
