A crazy match between Barça and Inter Milan in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals at Montjuic. The Italians had the upper hand, but Hansi Flick’s men have become specialists in comebacks and reacted well to level the score, leaving everything to be decided in the second leg in Milan. It’s a wide-open tie with everything in favor of the Italians, who have home advantage.
Bad start to the game
Barça wanted to make a statement like they did against Borussia Dortmund in the quarterfinals, but the game started in the worst possible way. Thuram was a doubt until the last minute for Inter Milan, but his return to the pitch couldn’t have been better, scoring a stunning backheel goal just after kickoff. The Barça fans had barely settled into their seats when they were hit with a bucket of cold water in the form of a goal. Dumfries’ cross was not cleared by Iñigo Martínez, who slipped, and Thuram took advantage to score with a precise backheel shot that beat Szczesny.
Inter started strongly, wounded by their recent results and looking to make amends in the Champions League against a Barça side that needed to react and began to create chances in the opposition’s area, even claiming a couple of penalties that were not given by the French referee.
Things got worse, but Barça reacted
Ferran Torres had a chance to equalize in the 11th minute with a right-footed shot that went just wide of the right post. Shortly after, the Shark tried again with his right foot after picking up a rebound from a corner, but not only did the equalizer fail to come, but minutes later the game became even more complicated. In the 20th minute, another blow came for an unrecognizable Barça. Dimarco took a corner, Acerbi flicked it on, and Dumfries connected with a volley in the air that was unstoppable for Szczesny.
The game was looking tough for the Azulgranas, but they managed to react quickly. Barça reduced the deficit shortly after the Italians’ second goal. Lamine Yamal appeared in his 100th game to change everything. The young Barça winger conjured up a magnificent move, slipping into the Inter area between several defenders and firing a left-footed shot into the far corner, beating Sommer.
Siege and the equalizer
The Mataró native was hungry for more and went in search of a second goal. He beat Dimarco on the baseline and fired a left-footed shot from almost no angle, which Sommer could only touch enough to send it onto the crossbar. The goal spurred on the Culés, who had started the game sluggishly, and the next to try his luck was Dani Olmo, who fought his way into the area, but his left-footed shot was straight at the Italian goalkeeper.
Barça went into attack mode, looking for the equalizer at all costs before the break. After a great save by Sommer from Dani Olmo, it was Ferran Torres who scored the second. Pedri played a through ball over the top to find Raphinha, who flicked it on with his head for Ferran Torres, who made no mistake in his one-on-one with Sommer. A great reaction from Barça, who managed to level the score before the break.
Inter strike again, but Raphinha responds
In the second half, the first attempt was for the Italians. Inter came close with Bisseck sending in a cross at mid-height. Araújo deflected it, but it fell to Dimarco, who fired a right-footed shot high over the bar. As in the first half, it was Dumfries who opened the scoring for the Nerazzurri. Calhanoglu took the corner, Szczesny misjudged it and left it at the feet of Dumfries, who sealed his brace and made it 2-3 to Inter.
Barça seem to have become experts in comebacks and their reaction was immediate. Raphinha equalized again. It was a crazy game. Another corner kick. This time it was taken short, with Lamine Yamal letting the ball run through to Raphinha, who fired in a left-footed shot from long range that crashed against the crossbar, hit Sommer and ended up in the net.
Inter could have taken the lead again when Mkhitaryan scored from a cross by Dumfries, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Lamine also hit the crossbar and Sommer made a great save from Raphinha. There were chances, but there were no more surprises in this crazy game, which ended in a 3-3 draw, with everything to play for next Tuesday, May 6, at 9 p.m. in Milan.