Inter Milan edge Barcelona in classic to reach Champions League final

Inter Milan secured their place in the 2025 UEFA Champions League final after a dramatic 4-3 win over Barcelona at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, clinching the tie 7-6 on aggregate after extra time. The semifinal clash will be remembered as one of the greatest in the competition’s history, with relentless action, stunning goals, and emotional drama unfolding over two pulsating legs.

The night began perfectly for the hosts as Lautaro Martínez opened the scoring in the 21st minute, converting a low cross from Denzel Dumfries. Inter doubled their lead just before halftime when Hakan Çalhanoğlu calmly slotted home a penalty, giving the Italian side a 5-3 lead on aggregate and putting them in control.

Barcelona, however, responded with grit and flair in the second half. Eric García struck in the 54th minute, followed by a quickfire goal from Dani Olmo just six minutes later, both assisted by Gerard Martín. Raphinha then stunned the San Siro faithful with a goal in the 87th minute, turning the aggregate score to 6-5 in Barcelona’s favor and seemingly completing a spectacular comeback.

Inter, refusing to surrender, found a lifeline deep into stoppage time when Francesco Acerbi bundled in a dramatic equalizer in the 90+3rd minute, again assisted by Dumfries. The goal sent the tie into extra time, where the tension only grew with every minute as both sides pushed for a winner.

It was Davide Frattesi who emerged as the hero for Inter, firing home in the 99th minute from a Mehdi Taremi assist to restore their aggregate advantage. Barcelona pushed hard for another response, with 17-year-old Lamine Yamal playing a starring role in the dying moments, but Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer made several critical saves to preserve Inter’s lead.

As the final whistle blew, Inter players collapsed in celebration while Barcelona’s stars were left heartbroken. The Nerazzurri now advance to face either Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain in the final at Munich’s Allianz Arena on Saturday, May 31. The match was hailed by pundits and fans alike as an all-time classic, with Alan Shearer calling it “something very special” and praising both teams for delivering such an unforgettable spectacle.