Milan: Inter Milan’s Davide Frattesi scored a late goal in extra time, helping his team win 4-3 against Barcelona on Tuesday and reach the Champions League final. Francesco Acerbi had earlier brought Inter back to life with an equalizer deep in stoppage time.
Frattesi’s goal, along with excellent saves from goalkeeper Yann Sommer, ensured Inter’s thrilling 7-6 aggregate win in this memorable semi-final.
Inter will compete against either Paris St Germain or Arsenal in the final in Munich later this month. PSG leads their semi-final tie 1-0 ahead of Wednesday’s second leg.
The first leg in Barcelona was full of excitement, showcasing early surprises, late drama, and impressive plays from 17-year-old Lamine Yamal. The return match in Milan was even more intense, providing unforgettable moments.
Inter controlled the first half, going 2-0 up with a goal from Lautaro Martinez in the 21st minute, followed by a penalty from Hakan Calhanoglu just before halftime.
The penalty was awarded after VAR confirmed that Pau Cubarsi had fouled Martinez in the box, despite initial thoughts that it was a clean tackle.
Barcelona came alive in the second half, with Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo scoring within six minutes to level the match. Although Sommer made some crucial saves, Barcelona seemed to score the winner through Raphinha in the 87th minute.
However, as Inter sought an equalizer, Denzel Dumfries found 37-year-old Acerbi in the box, and he scored with a first-time shot, marking his first European goal in his 20th season and sending the game into extra time.
In the 99th minute, Marcus Thuram made a remarkable run and assisted Frattesi, who smoothly placed a shot into the bottom corner, delighting the home fans.
Inter Milan players celebrate their victory over Barcelona in the Champions League semifinal second leg in San Siro, Milan on May 6, 2025. Photo: Reuters/Daniele Mascolo
‘The incredible happened’
Sommer made two top saves from Yamal, who also hit the post in stoppage time, as Inter moved closer to their fourth Champions League title, their first in 15 years after losing to Manchester City in the final two years ago.
“I’m just glad to have played, I was so excited I saw everything black,” Frattesi said. He also scored the winner in the first leg against Bayern Munich. “I have to thank the physiotherapists; I wasn’t well recently. This victory is for them. It’s incredible, I don’t know what else to say. The unbelievable happened tonight.”
Barcelona, aiming for a treble after winning the Copa del Rey, will now focus on La Liga. They currently lead the table and will host Real Madrid on Sunday, who are four points behind with four games left.
The five-time Champions League winners were looking for their first final appearance in a decade but will now regroup before facing Real Madrid. They have remained unbeaten in domestic competitions since late December.
“Football has been very harsh to us,” Barca defender Eric Garcia said. “We were down 2-0 again, but the character our team showed was outstanding.
“We have a young team and it has been a great year. We still have the (Spanish) league to play for.”