Inter Milan Edge Past Barcelona in Epic 7–6 Aggregate Thriller to Reach UCL Final in a match for the ages

 

Inter Milan have sealed their place in the UEFA Champions League final after overcoming Barcelona in a breathtaking 4-3 victory on the night, clinching the semi-final 7-6 on aggregate. The win marks Inter’s second UCL final appearance in three years and reaffirms the resurgence of Italian football on Europe’s biggest stage.

The match began with high intensity, and the breakthrough came in the 21st minute when Barcelona lost possession in midfield. Federico Dimarco pounced, sparking a swift counter-attack. He fed Denzel Dumfries down the right, who delivered a precise pass across goal to an unmarked Lautaro Martínez. The Argentine striker finished emphatically, giving Inter an early lead.

Before the half could conclude, Inter struck again. Martínez, a constant threat throughout, surged into the box and was seemingly brought down by Pau Cubarsí. While the referee initially allowed play to continue, a VAR check confirmed a foul inside the box, and a penalty was awarded. Hakan Çalhanoğlu stepped up and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner, doubling Inter’s advantage.

Barcelona came out fighting in the second half. Eric García pulled one back with a rasping volley in the 54th minute from a well-delivered set piece, injecting life into the Spanish side. Just six minutes later, Dani Olmo found the net with a sharp header from inside the box, leveling the score on the night and tilting momentum in Barcelona’s favour.

Hansi Flick’s side nearly completed the turnaround when Lamine Yamal was brought down just outside the area by Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Initially awarded a penalty, the decision was controversially overturned by VAR, with the foul deemed to have occurred just outside the box.

Still pressing for a winner, Barcelona found joy in the 87th minute as Raphinha pounced on a rebound from his own shot, burying it in the bottom corner to give the visitors the lead and a crucial advantage with the clock ticking down.

But the drama was far from over. Inter, refusing to back down, found a dramatic equaliser in stoppage time. In the 93rd minute, Francesco Acerbi scrambled home from close range, sending the San Siro into delirium.

With extra time looming, Inter delivered the final blow. In the 99th minute, Davide Frattesi latched onto a loose ball in the box and calmly finished into the bottom left corner to complete a remarkable comeback and secure a 4-3 win on the night. This time there was no way back for the Spanish Club.

Simone Inzaghi's men now await the winner of the other semi-final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, set to be decided tomorrow.