Incredible. Lately, Barça has been swimming against the tide in every game, and the Champions League semi-final second leg was no exception. Hansi Flick’s side managed to turn a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 win, but Inter Milan’s push forced extra time, in which Inzaghi’s men sealed their place in the final. The Italian side booked their ticket to Munich and denied FC Barcelona the treble.
Maximum equality in the early stages
The ball was kicked off at the Giuseppe Meazza in a game with a lot at stake. It was no surprise that Inter opted for man-to-man marking throughout the pitch. Each side played to its strengths, with Hansi Flick, aware of the ‘terror’ that Lamine Yamal instilled in his opponents, directing much of his attacking play towards the youngster’s side of the pitch from the first minute of the match.
With both sides looking to get into the box, neither Inter nor Barcelona managed to impose themselves in the early stages of the Champions League semi-final second leg. Like their rivals, Inzaghi’s side also had a favorite wing to conduct their attacks through Dumfries. On the right, the Dutch full-back was a knife, attacking Gerard Martín, Barcelona’s theoretical weak flank, time and time again.
Inter close in on the final in the first half
After a couple of warnings from the Italians, which gave Íñigo Martínez some work to do, Inter Milan opened the scoring, bringing them one step closer to the final and forcing Barça to fight against the tide once again. The stadium erupted with the home goal, which came from a mistake by Dani Olmo that allowed Dimarco to slip the ball through to Dumfries, who set up Lautaro Martínez for the second goal. The Inter captain made no mistake with the empty net.
Barça’s situation became more complicated, with only Lamine offering any threat in attack, and the youngster alone against the world was not enough, especially as the game became even more complicated. Inter were more clinical in the opposition’s area, creating more dangerous chances with greater regularity. In one of these attacks, Lautaro Martínez fell inside the area, claiming a foul by Cubarsí. The Argentine instinctively put his supporting foot forward and ended up being hit by the center back’s right foot.
Initially, referee Marciniak did not blow his whistle, but he eventually went to the VAR and changed his mind, awarding a penalty. Calhanoglu made no mistake, completely deceiving Szczesny by shooting to his left, very close to the post. What a strike by the Turk just before halftime. It was now very difficult for Barcelona, who needed two goals to equalize the tie and three to go through to the final.
Barça equalizes
The same 22 players took to the pitch in Milan. Despite their lead, the Italian side did not let up and managed to score a third, although it did not count. Acerbi had scored with a great diving header, but he was clearly offside.
Accustomed lately to fighting against the tide and having to show their ability to react, Barça did it again. Eric García brought the Azulgrana back into the game by reducing the deficit. Gerard Martín sent in a great cross to the far post, where he found the other full-back, Eric García, who fired a stunning shot into the top corner.
The goal seemed to lift both teams, who both had clear chances to score. Inter were the first to try their luck, forcing Szczesny into action. The Barcelona goalkeeper made a great save from Barella’s powerful shot from outside the area. Barça immediately launched a great counterattack, with Gerard Martín playing a perfect pass to his teammate Eric García, but his shot from close range was saved by a tremendous save from Sommer.
The king of comebacks did it again in Milan. Dani Olmo scored the second goal to level the score. Another great assist from Gerard Martín with a cross to the far post, where he found Dani Olmo unmarked, who headed past Sommer’s dive.
Culés comeback
Mkhitaryan was awarded a penalty for a foul on Lamine Yamal. The Armenian claimed it was outside the box, and after reviewing it on VAR, the referee agreed. In the final stages of the game, the Barça youth player looked to complete the comeback, but was denied by Sommer. The Inter goalkeeper made a great save from the Barcelona winger’s shot from the edge of the area. Shortly after, Yamal’s cross-shot took a deflection and Sommer had to make another good save.
In the final minutes of the game, Barça completed their comeback, going from 2-0 down to 3-2 at San Siro. Raphinha had two chances, first hitting Sommer with a left-footed shot. Then, on the rebound, he sent the ball into the far corner with a fine right-footed shot.
Inter force extra time and reach the final
In the final minutes of regulation time, it was madness. Inter appealed for a penalty, Lamina hit the post, and Inter made it 3-3. Gerard Martín lost the ball, claiming a foul, but Frattesi played the killer pass to Acerbi, who scored the equalizer. Before the final whistle and extra time, Lamine could have sealed the win. The Barcelona winger broke into the box, but his shot was saved by Sommer.
In extra time, Inter took the lead again. Poor defending by Araújo on Thuram allowed him to advance to the byline and put in a cross. Taremi appeared and laid the ball off for Frattesi, who, unmarked, fired a left-footed shot into the far corner, giving Szczesny no chance.
In the second half of extra time, Lewandowski missed a chance to equalize. The Barcelona striker’s shot from close range after a cross from Lamine Yamal went over the crossbar. Shortly after, Inter could have sealed the win. Szczesny made a tremendous save to prevent Frattesi from scoring his second. The Azulgranas did not give up, but Lamine was to have nightmares about Sommer, who made two more saves.