Inter Milan Edges Barcelona In Thrilling UCL Semi-Final

In a thrilling UEFA Champions League semi-final clash, Inter Milan edged out Barcelona 4-3 in a dramatic second leg held at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan on May 7, 2025. This victory secured Inter Milan's place in the final with an aggregate score of 7-6, marking their return to the championship stage for the first time since the 2022-2023 season.

Inter Milan, who lost to Manchester City in the previous final, now aims for their fourth Champions League title, a feat they last achieved in the 2009-2010 season. The final will take place on June 1, 2025, at the Allianz Arena in Munich, where they will face the winner of the match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal.

Despite Barcelona's aspirations for a treble this season, having already clinched the Copa del Rey, their dreams were dashed as they fell short in this crucial encounter. The match saw Barcelona players expressing their frustration over several controversial refereeing decisions made by Simon Marciniak, which they felt heavily influenced the outcome.

According to reports from Spain's Marca, the Barcelona squad was vocally critical of the officiating during and after the match. Key incidents that sparked outrage included a non-call on a handball by Inter's Denzel Dumfries, a questionable foul by Gavi on Lautaro Martinez, and a reversal of penalty decisions against young star Lamine Yamal.

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick, while reluctant to delve into the officiating, noted, "I don't want to talk about the referee, but in 50-50 situations, the decisions always seemed to favor Inter Milan." His sentiments were echoed by defender Ronald Araujo, who remarked, "The referee clearly influenced the game. There was a foul on Martinez that should have been called when the score was 3-3. However, we must not look for excuses. We will keep our heads up and move forward."

Midfielder Pedri also took aim at the officiating, stating, "This referee has had questionable performances before. UEFA needs to look into this issue. There were decisions that were hard to understand and explain." The discontent among the Barcelona players was palpable as they left the pitch, their dreams of European glory hanging in the balance.

In the match itself, both teams displayed remarkable skill and tenacity, but it was Inter Milan who ultimately came out on top. Barcelona created numerous dangerous opportunities throughout the game, yet they were thwarted time and again by Inter's solid defense and the outstanding performance of goalkeeper Yan Sommer.

Despite the disappointment, Lamine Yamal, who has emerged as a bright star for Barcelona, took to social media to express his determination. "We fought until the last drop of sweat," Yamal stated. "This year may not have been successful, but I promise I won’t stop until I bring Barcelona back to the top of Europe!" His message resonated with fans, reinforcing their belief in the club's future, particularly with the talented La Masia academy graduates leading the charge.

Yamal also hinted at his commitment to the club, saying, "I will keep my promise and stay at Barcelona. But first, we have another important match coming up on Sunday, and we need to be more united than ever." His strong declaration has quickly spread among the fanbase, bolstering hope for the club's long-term development strategy.

Although the Champions League campaign ended in disappointment for Barcelona, Yamal's resolve and talent shine brightly, suggesting a promising future for the Catalan giants. As they regroup and prepare for their next challenges, the team must channel this setback into motivation for the remainder of the season.

The upcoming match on Sunday will be crucial as Barcelona looks to regain their footing and build momentum. With the support of their passionate fanbase and the young talents like Yamal stepping up, there is still much to play for this season.

As the dust settles on this intense semi-final, both teams have much to reflect on. Inter Milan celebrates a hard-fought victory and looks ahead to the final, while Barcelona must regroup and focus on the road ahead. The drama of the UEFA Champions League continues to unfold, and fans can expect more thrilling moments as the season progresses.