In a dramatic Champions League semi-final clash at the iconic Giuseppe Meazza, Inter Milan triumphed over FC Barcelona with a thrilling 4-3 victory after extra time on May 6, 2025. This match marked the end of Barcelona's European journey for the season, as the Italian side advanced to the final, set to take place in Munich on May 31.
The encounter started with a bang when Lautaro Martínez opened the scoring for Inter in the 21st minute. A perfectly timed pass from Dimarco found Thuram, who assisted Lautaro to finish calmly past Szczęsny. Barcelona, although initially dominating possession, struggled to convert their control into clear chances. Shortly before halftime, a controversial penalty was awarded after a foul by Cubarsí on Lautaro, with Çalhanoğlu converting it to double Inter's lead.
Trailing 2-0 at the break, Barcelona needed a spark, and they found it just eight minutes into the second half. Eric García capitalized on a loose ball at the far post to pull one back for the Catalans. The resurgence continued as Dani Olmo leveled the match with a header from another assist by Gerard Martín in the 60th minute. The momentum shifted, and Barcelona seemed poised to take control.
In a dramatic turn of events, Raphinha completed the comeback for Barcelona in the 87th minute, scoring to put his team ahead 3-2. However, the excitement was far from over. In a heart-stopping finish, Acerbi equalized for Inter in the 93rd minute, sending the match into extra time and leaving Barcelona fans in disbelief.
The first half of extra time saw both teams battling for supremacy, but it was Frattesi who ultimately sealed the fate of the match with a well-placed shot in the 99th minute, restoring Inter's lead and putting them ahead for good. Despite relentless pressure from Barcelona in the closing minutes, including a stunning save from Inter's goalkeeper, Yann Sommer, against Lamine Yamal, the score remained unchanged.
After the match, Barcelona's coach Hansi Flick expressed his disappointment but praised his players' efforts, stating, "I’m disappointed, but not with the players and their performance. They tried everything, and it is what it is. Some referee decisions didn’t go our way, but we have to accept that." Flick emphasized the need for his team to learn from this experience, looking ahead to next season.
Ronald Araujo reflected on the team’s effort, saying, "We are sad; we wanted to qualify. We were doing great in the Champions League, we were close, but we let it slip away. These matches are decided by details, and we failed. It’s a tough blow, but this team has an incredible mentality. Flick told us he was very proud of what we did in this Champions League, and we will try again next year."
Eric García voiced frustration over the officiating, remarking, "I think football has been very cruel to us. We started behind again, but the character of the team is incredible. I’ve been here three times, and every time it hasn’t gone our way. It was a year when no one believed in us, and look at what we’ve created. We still have La Liga to focus on."
On the other side, Inter's Lautaro Martínez expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance, stating, "I’m very happy and satisfied with the work we did and for all the people who came to support us today. I pushed myself 100% to play this match. It was worth the effort, even if I’m a bit sore now. We faced a very tough opponent, but we have our game and our way with Simone."
The match statistics highlighted Barcelona's dominance in possession (72%) and total attempts (20), yet they were unable to convert their chances effectively. Inter's defense, led by Sommer, was resolute, allowing them to withstand Barcelona's late surge.
Looking ahead, Inter will prepare for the final in Munich, where they will face the winner of the second semi-final between PSG and Arsenal. The stakes are high, and with a strong showing against Barcelona, they will head into the final with confidence, seeking to add another Champions League title to their illustrious history.
As the dust settles on this thrilling encounter, Barcelona must regroup and refocus as they continue their campaign in La Liga, aiming to secure domestic success after a heart-wrenching exit from Europe. The lessons learned from this match could be pivotal for the young squad as they look to build for the future.
