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Wow. Just wow.
If you missed the Champions League semi-final between Inter Milan and Barcelona, you missed an absolute classic. Over two legs, these European giants delivered a footballing spectacle that had everything: goals, drama, controversy, and moments of sheer brilliance.
The first leg at Camp Nou ended in a pulsating 3-3 draw. Barcelona, buoyed by their home crowd, took the lead through Lamine Yamal. However, Inter responded with goals from Denzel Dumfries and Lautaro Martínez, showcasing their attacking prowess. Raphinha then stepped up for Barça, scoring twice to keep their hopes alive. The match was a rollercoaster, setting the stage for an epic second leg.
At the San Siro, Inter came out firing. Lautaro Martínez opened the scoring in the 21st minute, and Hakan Çalhanoğlu added a second from the penalty spot just before halftime, giving Inter a 2-0 lead. Barcelona, refusing to go down without a fight, clawed back with goals from Eric García in the 54th minute, Dani Olmo in the 60th, and Raphinha in the 87th, turning the match on its head.
But in stoppage time, Francesco Acerbi, the 37-year-old defender who has battled cancer twice, scored a dramatic equalizer to send the match into extra time. In extra time, Davide Frattesi became the hero, netting the decisive goal in the 99th minute to give Inter a 4-3 victory on the night and a 7-6 aggregate win. Goalkeeper Yann Sommer was instrumental, making crucial saves, including a stunning stop in the 114th minute to deny Lamine Yamal.
The match wasn't without its controversies. Barcelona players and staff expressed frustration with referee Szymon Marciniak's decisions, particularly regarding a VAR-awarded penalty and a potential foul on Yamal that went unpunished. These moments added to the tension and drama of an already intense encounter.
This semifinal will go down as one of the most thrilling in Champions League history. Both teams displayed incredible skill, determination, and heart. Inter's victory propels them into the final, where they'll face either Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal. For Barcelona, it's a heartbreaking exit, but they can hold their heads high after such a valiant effort.
Football at its finest. Matches like this remind us why we love the beautiful game.
