Inter Milan came into a dramatic Champions League semi-final second leg against FC Barcelona with a 3-0 advantage on aggregate at the historic San Siro stadium. The tournament final didn’t disappoint the audience, providing nonstop action with dramatic moments. In fact, fans are already dubbing it one of the most sensational clashes in Champions League’s distinguished annals. It was the perfect example of two teams refusing to lose, resulting in a thrilling conclusion that had spectators on the seat of their pants.
The match was played in torrential rain, which fell in biblical proportions, heaping the drama and tension on and off the field. Inter scored first when Francesco Acerbi found the back of the net in the 37th minute. With that goal, he became the second-oldest scorer in Champions League knockout history. The veteran defender’s strike made it 5-4 on aggregate at that point in favor of Inter.
Barcelona fought back, displaying resilience and creativity. Lamine Yamal nearly levelled things up by crashing the bottom of the right-hand upright. The visitors’ supporters feared the worst as they waited through that heart-stopping sequence. The heat really turned up with both squads fighting for midfield control.
As tensions escalated on the sidelines, Inter’s coach Simone Inzaghi received a booking for his animated protests, a sentiment mirrored by Barcelona’s coach Hansi Flick who was cautioned for similar behavior. The stakes really couldn’t have been higher. The game was a very literal battle of wits and spirit.
Both sides battled fiercely, regulation time concluded in stunning fashion with a 90+3 minute strike from Acerbi. This objective made the cumulative tally 6-6 after two legs and sent the contest into extra time.
In additional time, Inter took a different approach. In their place, they introduced Piotr Zielinski and Davide Frattesi, replacing Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. At the other end, Barcelona’s attack was largely propped up by the introduction of Robert Lewandowski for Ferran Torres.
Inter’s Dumfries was one of the best players on the pitch from start to finish. Immediately from the start of that first leg, he just dominated, absolute skill and will. His contributions were key in keeping the pressure on Barcelona’s back line.
In the 99th minute of extra time, Frattesi scored a huge winner. This sensational strike gave Inter a 7-6 lead on aggregate. The mood at San Siro immediately turned into a party as supporters celebrated the 4-0 aggregate advantage.
Inter Milan managed to hold on for the victory with a thrilling, but tense, final score of 4-3. This victory took them through with an aggregate score of 7-6 against Barcelona.