By Kazeem Ugbodaga
In a pulsating semi-final showdown that will go down as one of the most thrilling matches in Champions League history, Inter Milan edged out Barcelona 4-3 on the night and 7-6 on aggregate to storm into the final of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League.
Played under the floodlights at the San Siro, the game was a rollercoaster of drama, quality, controversy, and sheer footballing madness, with both sides trading blows until the final whistle of extra time.
Inter wasted no time stamping their authority on the match. In the 21st minute, Lautaro Martínez finished off a slick move, rifling a low shot into the net after a clever pass from Denzel Dumfries to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
Moments later, controversy erupted. Barcelona screamed for a penalty after a potential handball in the Inter box. Referee Szymon Marciniak waved play on, but a VAR review followed. To the dismay of the visiting players, the decision stood — no penalty.
Inter continued to pile on the pressure. Barely a minute before the break, Lautaro Martínez went down under a challenge, and this time the VAR intervened in Inter’s favour. Hakan Çalhanoğlu calmly converted from the spot in first-half stoppage time to double the lead at 2-0, sending the San Siro into raptures.
After the break, Barcelona mounted a spirited comeback. Eric Garcia halved the deficit in the 54th minute with a stunning finish into the top corner, and just six minutes later, Dani Olmo powered in a header from Gerard Martin’s inviting cross to make it 2-2.
The Catalan giants weren’t done yet. Raphinha pounced on a rebound in the 87th minute to give Barcelona a 3-2 lead on the night and put them ahead on aggregate. But Inter weren’t ready to bow out.
In the third minute of stoppage time, Denzel Dumfries turned provider again, teeing up Francesco Acerbi, who smashed in an equaliser to make it 3-3 and force extra time.
As legs tired and the tempo dipped only slightly, it was Inter’s Davide Frattesi who provided the final twist. In the 99th minute, he latched onto a perfectly weighted pass from Mehdi Taremi and showed nerves of steel to slot the ball into the bottom left corner, making it 4-3.
Barcelona threw everything forward in search of another lifeline. Lamine Yamal dazzled with his dribbles and came agonisingly close twice, but Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer was equal to the task, delivering a heroic performance between the sticks.
