Inter Milan clutched immortality. Davide Frattesi’s 99th-minute winner settled a Champions League semifinal of mythical proportions, sending the Nerazzurri past Barcelona 4–3 on the night and 7–6 on aggregate in a night soaked in tension and rain.
San Siro didn’t just erupt—it shook, thundered, and wept. Over two legs and 210 minutes of football, there were 13 goals, four comebacks, and one unforgettable winner.
“This wasn’t just football,” Inter boss Simone Inzaghi said, visibly emotional post-match.
“This was heart, history, and hell wrapped into one. We bled for this.”
A Tie for the Ages
Last week’s first leg ended in a breathless 3–3 draw in Barcelona, where the Catalans had twice clawed back from two goals down. On Tuesday night, they almost pulled off the unthinkable again.
Lautaro Martínez opened the scoring before Hakan Çalhanoğlu coolly slotted a penalty. But Barcelona, as they’ve done all season under Hansi Flick, roared back.
Eric García and Dani Olmo netted in quick succession, leveling the match on the night. When Raphinha struck in the 87th minute to make it 3–2—Barcelona’s first lead in the tie—the narrative seemed complete.
Enter Francesco Acerbi
The 37-year-old cancer survivor rose in the 93rd minute to stab home the equalizer, his celebration revealing tattooed angel wings across his back. It was divine, dramatic, and desperately needed.
“I’ve been to hell and back. Tonight, I found heaven. That moment… it was for everything I’ve been through,” Acerbi later said.
“For my fight, my family, my team.”
With the tie level at 6–6, extra time loomed.
Frattesi the Final Hero
Just nine minutes into extra time, substitute Davide Frattesi latched onto a Thuram flick and thundered the ball past Barcelona keeper Marc-André ter Stegen. It was his first Champions League goal, and what a time to score it.
“I thought I’d faint,” Frattesi said, moments after collapsing to the turf in tears.
“It was like my soul left my body when I saw it hit the net.”
From there, Inter clung on for dear life. Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal hit the post, then twice forced spectacular saves from 36-year-old Yann Sommer, who was rightly crowned Man of the Match.
Sommer’s Redemption Arc
Sommer’s presence at Inter is a story unto itself. Unwanted by Bayern Munich and brought in to replace André Onana—who was sold for financial reasons—the Swiss veteran stood tallest when it mattered most.
“People talk about miracles. This was just Yann being Yann,” Inzaghi said.
“He was the wall we leaned on tonight.”
Sommer made seven saves, including two late stops on Yamal that defied physics and age.
Yamal: Teen Titan on the Losing Side
At just 17, Lamine Yamal was Barcelona’s heartbeat and lightning rod. Facing a hostile San Siro crowd, a waterlogged pitch, and defenders with more than 1,000 games between them, Yamal stood undaunted.
He ran rings around Federico Dimarco, struck the post, and nearly conjured a winner in stoppage time.
“I’ve never seen a 17-year-old dominate like that in a Champions League semifinal. He is already among the best. He has that Messi sparkle,” admitted Flick.
It wasn’t enough—but Barcelona’s future has never looked brighter.
Barça Fall Short, But Rise Again
The loss ended Barcelona’s dreams of a treble, but their 2024/25 campaign remains remarkable. They’ve already secured the Spanish SuperCopa and Copa del Rey, and sit four points clear at the top of LaLiga.
Their fightback spirit, especially against European giants, marks a turning point for a club haunted by collapses in Rome, Liverpool, and Munich.
“It hurts, but this isn’t a failure,” said Olmo.
“This is a beginning.”
Inzaghi’s Band of Believers Return to the Final
For Inter and Inzaghi, this marks their second final in three seasons. They lost to Manchester City in 2023, but the core remains—older, wiser, and, if this epic is any indication, hungrier than ever.
Inzaghi, whose calm demeanor belies his tactical genius, said it best:
“We don’t play for the spotlight. We play for each other. And that’s why we’re going to Munich.”
Final Awaits
Inter now await the winner of Wednesday’s semifinal between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal. The final will take place on May 31 at Munich’s Allianz Arena. Whatever happens there, this semifinal will echo for generations.
MATCH STATISTICS
– Aggregate: Inter 7–6 Barcelona
– Second Leg: Inter 4–3 Barcelona (A.E.T.)
– Goals:
Martínez (12′),
Çalhanoğlu (PEN 34′),
García (51′),
Olmo (63′),
Raphinha (87′),
Acerbi (90+3′),
Frattesi (99′)
– MOTM: Yann Sommer (7 saves)
– Final Date: May 31, Allianz Arena
