For the second time in just six days, Inter Milan and Barcelona delivered a European classic as the champions of Italy triumphed 4-3 on the night, winning 7-6 on aggregate to advance to the Champions League final.
This thrilling encounter will be remembered for years to come. In the first leg in Catalonia, Barca had fallen behind 2-0 and 3-2 before salvaging a 3-3 draw. On Tuesday in Milan, they again found themselves 2-0 down at half-time, trailing 5-3 on aggregate, before scoring three unanswered goals.
Raphinha’s strike in the 87th minute marked the first time Barcelona had taken the lead on aggregate. However, Francesco Acerbi’s first European goal at the age of 37 sent the match into extra time. Substitute Davide Frattesi then scored the winner, sending over 70,000 Inter fans at the San Siro into raptures.
This match became the joint highest-scoring Champions League semi-final ever, with a total of 13 goalsβmatching the 2018 semi-final when Liverpool defeated Roma 7-6 on aggregate.
No neutrals wanted this captivating tie, filled with twists and turns, to end. When Polish referee Szymon Marciniak sounded the final whistle, Inter Milan’s players sank to their knees, exhausted but triumphant.
They remained on the pitch for 15 to 20 minutes after full-time, expressing their gratitude to the ecstatic fans, who can now start booking flights and hotels for the final in Munich on May 31.
Inter will face either Paris St-Germain or Arsenal, who meet in the other semi-final in France on Wednesday, following this great modern classic.
