Barca and Inter play out a thriller
Barcelona 3 - 3 Inter Milan
Barcelona twice came from behind to earn a draw against Inter Milan in a pulsating six-goal Champions League semi-final first leg, leaving the tie finely balanced ahead of next week’s return fixture in Milan.
Author - Jack L
Stadium - Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys
The visitors stunned the hosts within 30 seconds when Marcus Thuram diverted Denzel Dumfries’ low cross into the net with a deft backheel, registering the fastest goal ever scored in a semi-final of the competition.
Dumfries then doubled Inter’s lead after 20 minutes with an acrobatic volley that silenced the Montjuïc crowd and left Barcelona facing an early uphill task.
However, the irrepressible Lamine Yamal soon dragged his side back into the contest. The teenager weaved inside from the right, jinking past several defenders before curling a sublime left-footed shot in off the post to halve the deficit.
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Yamal remained at the centre of Barcelona’s attacking play throughout. He struck the woodwork twice and capped his 100th appearance for the club with a goal that brought his tally to 22, alongside 33 assists, at just 17 years of age.
Ferran Torres drew the sides level before half-time, pouncing from close range after Raphinha had nodded down Pedri’s crossfield pass.
There was more drama and excitement to come
Inter regained the lead just past the hour mark when Dumfries headed in his second of the evening from a Hakan Calhanoglu corner.
But Barcelona responded almost immediately. Raphinha unleashed a thunderous effort from distance that crashed off the bar, struck goalkeeper Yann Sommer, and rebounded into the net to make it 3-3.
The result sets up a tantalising second leg at San Siro on Tuesday, with all to play for in this finely poised semi-final.
Yamal dazzles on the biggest stage again
It had been fifteen years have passed since these two sides last faced each other in a Champions League knockout tie, when José Mourinho’s Inter stunned Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona. This latest meeting delivered another enthralling semi-final between two of Europe’s storied clubs.
There have been repeated claims that Barcelona cannot lift the trophy while playing with such an adventurous attacking style and a perilously high defensive line. Few would deny that it makes for gripping football.
