In what may go down as the greatest Champions League semifinal of all time, Inter Milan defeated Barcelona 4–3 after extra time, 7–6 on aggregate, in a match that redefined drama, shattered records, and ended with the San Siro shaking to its core.
Frattesi finishes it, Sommer seals it
After 12 goals across two legs, Raphinha looked to have won it for Barcelona with his 88th-minute strike — his 21st goal contribution of the campaign, equaling Cristiano Ronaldo‘s single-season Champions League record. But just as they did all night, Inter found a response.
Francesco Acerbi, 37 and scoreless in the competition until now, flicked in a late equalizer from a Denzel Dumfries assist to force extra time. Then came the moment: Marcus Thuram shrugged off Araujo, slid it across goal to Mehdi Taremi, who laid it off to Davide Frattesi. The Italian midfielder didn’t blink — smashing it into the bottom corner for the 13th goal of the tie, a new Champions League knockout stage record.
In the final seconds, Robert Lewandowski’s header missed by inches, and Fermin Lopez’s nod across goal was heroically cleared by Stefan de Vrij with Araujo ready to pounce. Yann Sommer, again, was monumental, denying Yamal, Garcia, and Lewandowski with fingertip brilliance.
A match for the ages
Inter didn’t just survive; they battled. They answered every Barcelona comeback, from 2–0 up to 2–2, from 3–2 down to 4–3 winners. Simone Inzaghi lived every minute on the touchline, soaked and screaming, as Inter reached their first Champions League final since 2010.
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal dazzled but found little support. Sommer’s brilliance and Inter’s last-ditch defending ultimately proved too much.
This was not just a match. This was legacy.
