Barcelona succumbs to Inter Milan, securing Milanese progression to the Champions League finale
Thrilling Semi-Final Rematch: On a pulsating Tuesday night, May 6th, the clash between Inter Milan and FC Barcelona at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. Having already played a nail-biting first leg on May 30th, this return semi-final match was equally electric. The Nerazzurri secured a thrilling 4-3 victory in extra time over their Catalan rivals, earning their spot in the Champions League final (4-3 on aggregate).
With this hard-fought victory in overtime, Inter Milan became the first team to qualify for the Champions League final, having previously reached the final in 2023 but losing to Manchester City (0-1). Their next opponents will be either Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) or Arsenal in Munich on May 31st.
Coming back after halftime, Inter's Lautaro Martinez, who scored earlier and won a penalty, steered the team to a 2-0 lead. The Nerazzurri players held on until the break, but after the halftime, they started to falter, conceding three goals. Barcelona seemed to have the match in control with a two-goal lead (3-2) before the 90th minute, but Milanes defender Francesco Acerbi equalized, rekindling the hopes of the 75,000 Inter fans present at San Siro.
Key Highlights:
- Lautaro Martinez, fresh from injury, powerfully opened the scoring with an empty-net finish set up by Denzel Dumfries in the 22nd minute.
- Before half time, Martinez won a penalty, which Hakan Calhanoglu converted to give Inter a commanding 2-0 lead.
- A determined Barcelona fightback saw them score three times in the second half to take a 3-2 lead. Eric Garcia, Dani Olmo, and Raphinha were the goal scorers.
- Just when all seemed lost for Inter, Acerbi netted an injury-time equalizer (90+3) to take the game into extra time.
- Close to the end of extra time, Davide Frattesi secured the win for Inter, beating the Barcelona keeper with a curling shot.
Yann Sommer, the Unsung Hero
Yann Sommer played a crucial role between the Inter Milan posts, making seven remarkable saves throughout the match. He repeatedly frustrated Barcelona attacker Lamine Yamal, saving penalties at the 77th, 92nd, 96th, 114th, and 116th minutes, ensuring his team reached the final. The Swiss goalkeeper was rightly named Man of the Match by UEFA and your live commentators.
Additional Insights:
This high-scoring affair (3-3 in the first leg; 4-3 in the return) matched the highest goal tally at this stage of the competition, sharing the record with Liverpool-Roma in 2018 (7-6 aggregate). The return leg was rated an 'A' for an incredible display of football entertainment.
Lautaro Martinez, the Argentine captain and striker of Inter Milan, stated, “Now, our goal is the title” after his team's qualification for the Champions League final.
- Despite an unstoppable performance from Yann Sommer, who made seven saves and denied Lamine Yamal five penalties, Inter Milan found themselves in a tight spot against Barcelona on Wednesday.
- In the Champions League semi-finals, Milan's defender Francesco Acerbi emerged as a hero for the Nerazzurri, scoring the crucial equalizer against Barcelona at the 90+3 minute, securing the team's spot in the Champions League final.
- To place a bet on the upcoming Champions League final, one must consider the performances of teams such as Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Milan, and sports betting on European leagues could offer exciting opportunities for sports enthusiasts.
- As Inter Milan prepares for the Champions League final, their key player Lautaro Martinez, who scored twice in the Wednesday match against Barcelona, is aiming high, with his sights set on claiming the ultimate prize – the title.
- This thrilling Champions League encounter between Milan and Barcelona stands as one of the highest-scoring semi-final matches in European football history, with a combined 7 goals scored between the two teams across both legs.
