Like a painting hanging in the Louvre, the UEFA has the obligation to immortalize the series of semifinals just played by Inter Milan and Barcelona, with two unforgettable and dramatic matches that will go down in the history books of world football.
The 3-3 last week at Montjuic was just a preview of the masterpiece that the Nerazzurri and the Azulgranas showcased at the Giuseppe Meazza, with a 4-3 that went into extra time thanks to Inter’s dramatic equalizer in stoppage time when the Catalans were already close to the final.
But it wasn’t just the goals. The ovation is for the level of play, the tactical intelligence of Inter, the carefree daring of Barcelona, the saves by Swiss Yann Sommer, and the dribbles by Lamine Yamal.
How did Inter Milan qualify for the Champions League final?
It was a crazy match, and a crazy knockout round. Barcelona fought against everything but couldn’t make it, partly due to their own mistakes that are costly at this stage. Both at Montjuic and at San Siro. But Barcelona also showed their faith, their philosophy of never giving up, and their great offensive talent. They were a minute and a half away from going to Munich for the grand final, but extra time sent them home empty-handed.
The first part was dominated by the blue and garnet team in possession, but the goals were scored by the black and blue team.
However, Barcelona was a different team in the second half. Flick’s team believed and managed to score three goals to turn the tables. Despite facing Inter, which is surely the best defensive team in this Champions League, and where the Swiss goalkeeper Sommer played an outstanding match.
At 87 minutes, Raphinha scored the 3-2, turned the game around, and everything seemed set for Barcelona to play their first European final since Lionel Messi’s departure, marking a new era. But no. Central defender Francesco Acerbi, in an isolated play with Barcelona surprisingly badly positioned, scored in the third minute of stoppage time in almost Inter’s only arrival to Wojciech Szczesny’s area in the second half.
Barça had it done, with epicness, good play, and three goals. But this Inter, with nothing, can do a lot. And Barcelona did not expect that blow, even less after seeing Lamine Yamal hit the post and once again test crucial Sommer. Perhaps the moral blow of conceding a goal in injury time after coming back from a 2-0 deficit was too much for this Barcelona that enters extra time very physically tired and that has a lot of talent but in very green legs, very young, not yet accustomed to such high intensity in Champions semifinals.
And in extra time, with Barcelona somewhat subdued, Inter scored 4-3 in the first well-worked play, finished by Davide Frattesi inside the box, with the repeated passivity of the Catalan defense.
Barcelona did not give up, they were defeated. Especially Sommer, who under the rain in Milan incredibly prevented the 4-4 in Yamal’s feet.
All that talent of young Yamal will not be on the grass of the Allianz Arena for the grand final in Munich on May 31, but just like Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, his time to lift “La Orejona” will come sooner or later. Not the one in 2025, which will be for Inter or the winner of tomorrow’s match between PSG and Arsenal.