There have been 13 complete targets and a number of multi-goal comebacks. There was pandemonium, stoppage-time salvation and extra-time ecstasy. And on the finish of a Champions League semifinal for the ages, one of many wildest that soccer has ever seen, there was Inter Milan, roaring and in some way nonetheless standing.
on Tuesday in a preposterous second leg, and 7-6 on combination to succeed in the ultimate.
The Italian giants, spurred on by a relentless surge of San Siro noise, blew a two-goal lead however survived with an equalizer within the 93rd minute of regulation; after which gained a chaotic sport, and the semifinal, with an exquisite workforce purpose within the 99th minute, deep right into a moist Italian night time.
That decisive purpose, scored by substitute Davide Frattesi, set off explosive celebrations in Milan.
“Once we took the purpose, the 3-2, I spoke with Marcus (Thuram) and I advised him, ‘Marcus, we handed, we handed. Don’t fret, we will the ultimate,'” Frattesi advised the CBS broadcast after the match. “I do not understand how I scored the purpose.”
When pressed on his resolution to take his candy time earlier than firing off the game-winner, Frattesi jokingly responded, “I do not know. Perhaps as a result of I used to be considering that if I do not rating, I am f***ed.”
But it surely was 10 minutes earlier when the San Siro really erupted. Francesco Acerbi, a central defender who had not scored all season, turned in an equalizer, ripped off his shirt, and everybody went mad.
And Barca crumbled. A workforce of a lot expertise, and bravado, and relentless aggression, fell by itself sword. It has been the perfect workforce in Spain, in Europe, in world soccer, all through a splendid 2024-25 season, however it had one tragic weak point: It struggled time and again to shut out video games.
So even when it got here again from two targets down, for the second time in six days, to take a late lead, it couldn’t e-book a ticket within the Champions League last.
Inter, as a substitute, will play Might 31 in Munich towards the winner of .
Tuesday’s was a sport of two halves, after which insanity. It was calm, then one-sided, then turned on its head, then unhinged.
Within the first half, Inter slowed Barca, then ambushed the now-former Champions League favorites. Federico Dimarco jumped Dani Olmo in midfield, gained a sort out, and the short change of possession left Barca’s again 4 uncovered. Dimarco, the left wingback, slid in Denzel Dumfries, the proper wingback. Dumfries squared the ball to Lautaro Martínez, who completed right into a largely empty internet.
And on the point of halftime, the hosts doubled their lead. Martínez gained a penalty. Hakan Çalhanoglu transformed. Barca limped into its locker room two targets behind.
However over the opening quarter-hour of the second half, the Blaugrana climbed out of their gap. Eric Garcia guided a pleasant volley into the highest nook.
Six minutes later, Gerard Martin, the unheralded backup left again who’d assisted the primary purpose, served in one other wonderful cross. Dani Olmo nodded it previous Yann Sommer. And identical to that, Barca was stage.
Within the 87th minute, as the sport stumbled, nonetheless drunkenly, towards additional time, Raphinha scored what appeared, to everybody contained in the San Siro and watching across the globe, just like the winner.
However Acerbi, maybe the unlikeliest hero, ensured that it would not be. Frattesi ensured that the celebrations would proceed. Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer, together with his umpteenth implausible save of the night time, denied Lamine Yamal late within the second half of additional time, and ensured that his workforce, in contrast to Barca, would maintain on to an unforgettable victory.
“We noticed plenty of conditions earlier than the sport that (Yamal) is coming inside, he has the ball close to his ft after which he shoots shortly,” Sommer stated post-match. ” … I used to be actually joyful to avoid wasting this ball as a result of it gave us a little bit little bit of energy, it gave us the boldness again for these final minutes.”
Now the world waits to see in the event that they take that confidence into the ultimate in Munich.
This is how the match unfolded in actual time:
LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER51 updates
Tue, Might 6, 2025 at 11:40 p.m. GMT+2FULL TIME: Inter 4-3 Barcelona (7-6 agg.)
In a Champions League semifinal for the ages, Inter Milan outlasted Barcelona 4-3 on the night time and 7-6 on combination in a chaotic, breathtaking match on the San Siro.
Inter surged to a 2-0 lead by halftime, just for Barcelona to roar again and take a late lead. However Francesco Acerbi equalized in stoppage time, and Davide Frattesi scored the winner in additional time, capping a match stuffed with comebacks, drama, and unforgettable moments.
Regardless of a superb season, Barcelona as soon as once more failed to shut out a sport — and Inter, in some way, is headed to the ultimate.
Tue, Might 6, 2025 at 11:38 p.m. GMT+2Tue, Might 6, 2025 at 11:37 p.m. GMT+2HIGHLIGHT: Sommer denies Yamal, once more! Tue, Might 6, 2025 at 11:33 p.m. GMT+2114′ Sommer delivers one other unreal save vs. Yamal!
{The teenager} fired in a laser, however Sommer simply obtained his fingertips on it to ship it vast. Nothing comes of the following nook and Inter is 5 minutes away from advancing to the ultimate!
Tue, Might 6, 2025 at 11:27 p.m. GMT+2Frattessi’s intense celebrationTue, Might 6, 2025 at 11:26 p.m. GMT+2107′ Barca knocking on the door
Lewandowski ship a header vast over the crossbar after an absolute GIFT from Lamine Yamal.
Tue, Might 6, 2025 at 11:24 p.m. GMT+2Second half of additional time underway
Barcelona subs in Gavi and Victor for Cubarsi and Pedri. They usually’re off and working in search of the equalizer in what has been an unimaginable back-and-forth match in Italy.
Tue, Might 6, 2025 at 11:22 p.m. GMT+2HALFTIME of additional time
Barcelona was minutes away from the ultimate. Now the Catalans are quarter-hour away from elimination. Can they discover one other purpose?
Tue, Might 6, 2025 at 11:19 p.m. GMT+2Tue, Might 6, 2025 at 11:17 p.m. GMT+2Tue, Might 6, 2025 at 11:14 p.m. GMT+2HIGHLIGHT: Frattesi offers Inter the lead in additional timeTue, Might 6, 2025 at 11:12 p.m. GMT+299′ GOAL – Davide Frattesi makes it Inter 4-3 Barcelona (7-6 agg.)
Inter is again on high after Frattesi takes his time contained in the field to ship the go-ahead purpose
Tue, Might 6, 2025 at 11:03 p.m. GMT+2HIGHLIGHT: Acerbi’s late equalizer sends San Siro into hystericsTue, Might 6, 2025 at 11:02 p.m. GMT+2First half of additional time begins now!Tue, Might 6, 2025 at 10:59 p.m. GMT+2FULL TIME: Inter 3-3 Barcelona (6-6 agg.)
We’re getting 30 extra minutes of this masterpiece of a match!
Tue, Might 6, 2025 at 10:55 p.m. GMT+290+3′ GOAL – Inter’s Acerbi equalizes in stoppage time! 3-3 (6-6 agg.)Tue, Might 6, 2025 at 10:51 p.m. GMT+2Raphinha’s on a exceptional runTue, Might 6, 2025 at 10:48 p.m. GMT+287′ GOAL – Raphinha scores off the Sommer deflection! Inter 2-3 Barcelona (5-6 agg.)Tue, Might 6, 2025 at 10:35 p.m. GMT+2HIGHLIGHT: Barca’s near-penalty
Henrikh Mkhitaryan fouled Lamine Yamal proper on the sting of the field, and initially, the referee pointed to the penalty spot.
However upon evaluate, the contact was simply exterior the field. So, as a substitute of a penalty, it was a free kick exterior the field, and the ensuing set play got here to nothing.
Nonetheless 2-2 after 70 minutes.
