A superlative Barcelona: 2 minutes away from the Munich final!

FC Barcelona said goodbye to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 in an incredible match against Inter Milan (4-3). The team led by Hansi Flick was only two minutes away from advancing to the Munich final, but a goal from Francesco Acerbi sent the tie to extra time in the 90+1' minute.

Inter took the lead in the first half thanks to goals from Lautaro Martínez, in the 21st minute and Hakan Çalhanoglu just before half-time, after a controversial penalty by Pau Cubarsí on Lautaro sanctioned thanks to VAR. Initially, Szymon Marciniak did not call a foul by the 'culé' centre-back, but after reviewing the action on the monitor he reversed his decision.

Epic reaction from Barça to be on the verge of the final

However, after the break, Barça came out all-out for the comeback and, in just 15 minutes, managed to equalise the match and the tie thanks to two assists from Gerard Martín. The full-back assisted Eric García and Dani Olmo in the 54th and 60th minutes after a brutal quarter of an hour from the 'azulgrana' team where Inter, again, were subdued by the Catalans.

With Pedri unleashed in midfield and Lamine Yamal unstoppable on the right wing, Flick's side dominated the entire second half and, in the 87th minute, a recovery by the '8' ended in an assist for Raphinha. The Brazilian was finally able to arrive freely on the left and, although Sommer saved his first shot, the rebound fell to him again and the '11' finished with a cross-shot with his left foot.

Everything seemed to be on track for the most epic comeback of the season, but football is not always fair. In the first minute of the three that Marciniak had added, an Inter that seemed to be on the canvas was incredibly resurrected with a great goal that sealed a new 3-3. After 180 minutes, the finalist had to be decided in extra time.

Acerbi, Frattessi and Sommer, Inter's heroes against Barça

In the 90+1, a loss by Gerard Martín in the exit allowed Denzel Dumfries to send a low cross from the left that found Francesco Acerbi free between the 'azulgrana' centre-backs to shoot Szczesny. Then, in the 9th minute of the first half of extra time, Davide Frattessi returned the advantage to the locals, with an impressive downpour over the Giuseppe Meazza.

Ronald Araujo lost the duel with Marcus Thuram and the striker gave way to his teammate Mehdi Taremi, who behind the goal enabled Frattessi to define at will against Szczesny. Barça tried until the end, guided by an imperial Lamine, but the saves of Yann Sommer and the goddess fortune kept the 4-3 until the end.

In this way, Hansi Flick's Barcelona said goodbye to the Champions League and the dream of the treble in a cruel way, but with all the honors after an incredible match and tie in which there was everything. The aggregate was 7-6 and Sommer finished the tie with 16 saves in both matches. A statistic that sums up what the 'culés' key was, with 6 goals and 41 shots.