An exceptional Barcelona bids farewell to the Champions League final against Inter (4-3)

Inter Milan and FC Barcelona starred in the most incredible tie in UEFA Champions League history. After two matches in which everything happened and with a total of 12 goals, the first finalist of the 2024/25 edition had to be decided in extra time.

Hansi Flick's side were once again on the ropes, having to come back from 2-0 down after halftime. Once again, the Culés pulled off an epic comeback to overturn a seemingly impossible result, with a perfect second half in which Gerard Martín, Dani Olmo, and Raphinha scored.

The Brazilian's goal, in the 87th minute, seemed to settle the match, but the Italians managed to equalize in stoppage time and take the lead again in the first half of extra time. In the end, a goal from Davide Frattesi, in the 99th minute, sealed the tie in favor of the 'Nerazzurri'. 

Flick and Inzaghi Kept Their Lineups Intact

Both teams took to the field with the same players from the first leg, with the exception of Eric García on Barcelona's right flank. The Martorell native was chosen to cover for the absence of Jules Koundé, just as had happened before halftime six days ago at Montjuïc.

For the Italians, Lautaro Martínez, the other player injured in the first leg, ultimately started. The Argentine, although not at full fitness, pushed himself to partner Marcus Thuram in attack. Hansi Flick, on the other hand, preferred to rest Robert Lewandowski.

The Pole received medical clearance on Monday, but the manager preferred to keep Ferran Torres, scorer of one of Barça's goals in the draw in Catalonia, in the starting XI. Unlike the first leg, Inter started by pressing Barcelona's build-up play, with their lines much higher up the pitch.

Lautaro Put a Superior Inter Ahead in the Early Minutes

Lautaro Martínez scored Inter's partial 1-0 goal

Barcelona struggled to overcome Inter's pressure in midfield. Lamine Yamal came close to assisting Ferran after a good run down the wing and a brilliant backheel in the 8th minute. Seven minutes later, 'number 19' tried again with a shot that was very central, straight into Sommer's hands.

The Italians, on the other hand, again focused their attacks down the right, with Denzel Dumfries trying to beat Gerard Martín in one-on-one situations. Barella and Çalhanoğlu intercepted Barça's build-up play on several occasions, and Marcus Thuram, clearly offside, had the first clear chance for the hosts, easily dealt with by Szczesny.

The Pole was called into action again in the 21st minute, saving a very dangerous shot from Barella in two attempts. Inter had three consecutive corners in a span of just five minutes, and in the 22nd, they finally found a way to breach the Catalan goal.

A mistake from Dani Olmo while playing out from the back allowed Dimarco to recover the ball and set up Dumfries. The Dutchman broke free down the right and, with Szczesny coming out, laid it off for Lautaro Martínez to score with ease.

Barça's Immediate Reaction, But Lacking Accuracy

After the 1-0, Barça loosened up in attack against an Inter side that, logically, dropped their press back a few meters in the opponent's half. In the 25th minute, a shot from Olmo inside the box hit Acerbi's hand, but referee Marciniak and VAR deemed it not punishable, as it came from a previous rebound off the pitch.

Three minutes later, the Terrassa native wasted an excellent counter-attack opportunity, after a through ball from Pedri left Barça in a three-on-three situation. Raphinha and Ferran were supporting inside, but 'number 20' hesitated between shooting at goal or making a cross-field pass.

Flick's men regained control of midfield, and both Barella and Dimarco began to commit fouls that Marciniak, although he blew for them, let slide without showing some well-deserved yellow cards. Eric García pushed up into the opponent's half and came very close to assisting 'El Tiburón' (The Shark) in the 32nd minute, but 'number 7' couldn't get his header on target.

Afterward, Inter reacted with two very dangerous shots from Çalhanoğlu and Mkhitaryan. Before halftime, controversy arrived courtesy of VAR and Marciniak, with a very dubious penalty awarded for Cubarsí's challenge on Lautaro.

Marciniak and VAR Penalized Barça with a Dubious Cubarsí Penalty

'Number 2' slid in to block a shot from the Argentine forward as he entered the box. Although the Barcelona center-back seemed to have touched the ball first, VAR called Marciniak to review the play, as the Pole had initially not signaled anything.

Lautaro, cleverly, stayed down on the pitch, claiming a knock on his right ankle. After reviewing the action on the monitor, Marciniak considered that Cubarsí, although he managed to deflect the ball, brought down the Inter captain.

Çalhanoğlu, a specialist, took the penalty, deceiving Szczesny with a shot across goal. Thus, Barça went into halftime 2-0 down, but this team has shown countless times this season more than enough character and football to come back in incredible matches across all competitions.

Barça Mounted Another Comeback in 15 Minutes with Two Assists from Gerard Martín

Dani Olmo scored the partial 2-2 with a header

After halftime, Barcelona took control of possession and achieved their first clear objective: to pull one back quickly. In the 54th minute, after a previous rebound, Gerard Martín assisted Eric García with a perfect cross to the right, where 'number 24' appeared completely unmarked behind the Italian center-backs to fire past Sommer.

The goal was a huge blow for Inter, who, with everything in their favor, were clearly overwhelmed by a Barcelona side unleashed in attack. In the 57th minute, the Culés launched a perfect counter-attack after a corner for the 'Nerazzurri'.

Gerard Martín feinted to shoot against Sommer but laid it off again for Eric. The center-back, playing as a makeshift right-back due to Koundé's absence, shot with the goal at his mercy, but the Swiss goalkeeper prevented the point-blank goal with a spectacular save.

Despite the golden opportunity missed, the equalizer only took a couple of minutes to arrive. In the 60th minute, Gerard again, from the left, delivered a perfect cross that Dani Olmo headed home, getting ahead of Barella, to beat Sommer. In 15 minutes, Flick's side leveled a tie that had seemed impossible.

Raphinha Completed Barça's Most Epic Comeback

Raphinha made it 2-3 for Barça

In the 68th minute, Lamine Yamal won a penalty from Mkhitaryan. Marciniak did not hesitate to call the foul, but VAR advised that the Armenian player's tackle was just on the edge of the box, although 'number 19' fell inside the area. Once again, this time correctly, the referees saved the home side.

Then, in the 75th minute, Hansi Flick brought on Ronald Araujo for a booked Iñigo Martínez. Right after, Lamine Yamal unleashed one of his characteristic left-footed shots from the right, forcing another great save from Sommer.

Simone Inzaghi, for his part, tweaked his defense and midfield by bringing on Darmian, Frattesi, Zielinski, Taremi, and Carlos Augusto, the latter being the first change after Eric García's goal. For Barcelona, Fermín López also came on for Olmo.

After a timid reaction from Inter, Raphinha, in the 88th minute, completed Barcelona's comeback. Pedri won the ball back in midfield, leading to a pass to the Brazilian, whose first attempt stung Sommer's gloves. However, the rebound fell back to 'number 11,' and this time he unleashed a powerful, angled shot, impossible for the Swiss goalkeeper.

...But Acerbi Sent the Tie to Extra Time

Everything seemed settled for an Inter side clearly outplayed by Barcelona in the second half. Flick brought on Robert Lewandowski in stoppage time for Ferran Torres, and Lamine hit the post in the 90+1st minute after a lethal counter-attack.

However, Simone Inzaghi's men managed to send the match to extra time after Gerard Martín lost possession. 'Number 35', a standout performer with two assists, was dispossessed on the left by Dumfries, and the Dutchman sent in a low cross that Acerbi pounced on, appearing between the Barça center-backs to fire past Szczesny.

In a completely unexpected blink of an eye, the tie was level again. A spectacular, historic 6-6 aggregate score, in what is undoubtedly the best knockout tie of the Champions League era. Lamine almost scored a fourth in the last moment of stoppage time, after a great through ball from Raphinha, but Sommer saved the Mataró native's toe-poke.

Frattesi Put Inter Ahead Again in Extra Time

Once in extra time, a tremendous storm broke out in Milan. Flick had to bring on Héctor Fort for an Eric García who was completely exhausted physically, especially after the downpour. The match became more even again due to fatigue in both teams.

In the 98th minute, the Italians took the lead again thanks to a good goal from Davide Frattesi. The midfielder received a short pass from Taremi inside the box, following a run down the left by Marcus Thuram, who beat Araujo in a one-on-one.

The Uruguayan wanted to avoid conceding a dangerous free-kick near the box, but ultimately ended up giving the Dutchman the opportunity to deliver a lethal cut-back cross for a defense that missed Iñigo's presence in extra time.

Cruel Defeat for a Barcelona Side That Went Down Fighting

After the extra time interval, Gavi and Pau Víctor came on for Pedri and Cubarsí for Barça. Flick threw on everyone he had left to go for the equalizer. Lewandowski came close to scoring after a good run by Lamine and a poor decision by Sommer to come off his line, but the 'number 9's' header went high.

The Swiss, however, redeemed himself with another incredible save in the 114th minute, stretching to his left to tip an unstoppable shot from Lamine around the post, following an assist from 'Lewy' on a perfect counter-attack. 

Two minutes later, Yamal tried again with another good low shot, but the 'Nerazzurri' goalkeeper once again showed great reflexes to deny the youngster. The Mataró native was unstoppable for the Italian defense from start to finish. 

In the end, Barça tried until the very last breath, but football isn't always fair. Fate was cruel to a Barcelona side that was two minutes away from their first final in a decade. But this team will come back stronger in 25/26. 

Match Sheet: Inter Milan 4-3 FC Barcelona

• Inter Milan, 4: Sommer; Bisseck (Darmian, min. 70), Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries (De Vrij), Barella, Çalhanoğlu (Frattesi, min. 79), Mkhitaryan (Zielinski, min. 79), Dimarco (Carlos Augusto, min. 55); Lautaro (Taremi, min. 70) and Thuram.
• FC Barcelona, 3: Szczesny; Eric García, Cubarsí (Pau Víctor, min. 105), Iñigo (Araujo, min. 75), Gerard Martín; De Jong, Pedri (Gavi, min. 105); Lamine Yamal, Olmo (Fermín, min. 82), Raphinha; Ferran Torres (Lewandowski, min. 90+1).
• Goals: 1-0, Lautaro Martínez (min. 22); 2-0, Hakan Çalhanoğlu (min. 45+1', p.); 2-1, Eric García (Min. 54); 2-2, Dani Olmo (min. 60); 2-3, Raphinha (min. 88); 3-3, Francesco Acerbi (min. 90+3); 4-3, Davide Frattesi (min. 98)
• Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland). Booked Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Carlos Augusto, Francesco Acerbi, and Alessandro Bastoni for Inter. For Barça, Iñigo Martínez and Pau Víctor (for protesting from the bench) were cautioned. Awarded a dubious penalty for Pau Cubarsí's foul on Lautaro Martínez in the first half. Overturned a penalty for Henrikh Mkhitaryan's foul on Lamine Yamal because the foul was outside the box.
• Stadium: Giuseppe Meazza in Milan (Italy).
• Incidents: Match corresponding to the second leg of the UEFA Champions League 2024-25 semifinal.