Champions League | Inter 4-3 Barcelona aet (7-6 agg): Incredible Inter reach Final

epa12078776 FC Inter’s Francesco Acerbi (C) celebrates with his teammates after scoring the 3-3 goal during the UEFA Champions League semifinal 2nd leg soccer match between Inter Milan and FC Barcelona, in Milan, Italy, 06 May 2025. EPA-EFE/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO

Inter fumbled a 2-0 lead on the night, were losing 3-2 until Francesco Acerbi’s 93^rd minute equaliser, then finally defeated Barcelona in extra time with Davide Frattesi to reach the Champions League Final.

It was all to play for after the thrilling 3-3 first leg at Montjuic, to see who would face either Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain in Munich on May 31. Lautaro Martinez limped off at half-time in that game, but made a remarkable recovery to start with Marcus Thuram, missing only Benjamin Pavard. The Blaugrana lost Jules Koundé to a hamstring issue, so he was out along with Alejandro Balde, Marc Bernal, Pablo Torre and Marc Casadó. Robert Lewandowski returned to the bench for the first time since a hamstring strain on April 19 and Gerard Martin was confirmed at left-back.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Denzel Dumfries bagged a brace in the first leg, but here hesitated after shrugging off Gerard Martin and the chance went begging. Inigo Martinez made a crucial interception as Henrikh Mkhitaryan rolled across for Lautaro Martinez, while Nicoló Barella stung Wojciech Szczesny’s gloves at the near post after an acrobatic flick.

Inter’s pressure was growing and they took the lead moments later, as Federico Dimarco robbed Dani Olmo and immediately threaded through for Dumfries, who generously rolled it down the left for Lautaro Martinez to sweep home with the inside of the right boot.

LAUTARO MARTINEZ OPENS THE SCORING 🔥

A mess in midfield allows Inter Milan to catch Barcelona out to take the lead in the tie.#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/AsflqqgZCZ

— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) May 6, 2025

Barcelona had penalty appeals, but Francesco Acerbi in the sliding block on Pedri deflected the ball onto his own arm, so these situations are hardly ever considered to be punishable handling offences.

Alessandro Bastoni made a decisive block at the near post as Raphinha rolled across for Ferran Torres, while Mkhitaryan’s half-volley and a Hakan Calhanoglu scuffed first-time finish flashed just wide.

There were some desperate sliding tackles, from Bastoni on Lamine Yamal, but above all Pau Cubarsi as Lautaro Martinez was about to pull the trigger. From the back, it seemed like a clean challenge, but the footage from the front showed Cubarsi only caught Lautaro’s boot and pushed that onto the ball, so a penalty was awarded, which Calhanoglu converted by sending Szczesny the wrong way.

All the angles the Pau Cubarsí tackle to give Inter Milan a crucial penalty 👀#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/4Uu19snSal

— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) May 6, 2025

Acerbi had the ball in the net on 52 minutes, but only after he’d wandered offside for the diving header on a Calhanoglu free kick.

Instead, Barcelona got back into the tie when Gerard Martin stood up a cross for the smart Eric Garcia volley into the far top corner off the inside of the right boot

ERIC GARCIA PULLS ONE BACK FOR BARCELONA 🤯

There was no chance of stopping a volley this good.#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/r0Wg4uQaQ2

— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) May 6, 2025

Barella’s ferocious volley stung Szczesny’s gloves at the near post, but Barca broke three on two on the counter from the resulting corner, forcing Yann Sommer into a sensational reaction save on Eric Garcia.

Barcelona did complete the comeback to equalise on the night and on aggregate, as Gerard Martin floated a cross to find Dani Olmo for a free diving header at the back post.

DANI OLMO PUTS BARCA LEVEL 🔥

A free header at the far post means the tie is now tied at 5-5 😱#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/7zpV1fBH1b

— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) May 6, 2025

The referee pointed to the spot on 68 minutes, only for VAR to confirm Mkhitaryan’s foul on Lamine Yamal was just outside the penalty area.

Sommer flew to palm a Lamine Yamal scorcher with a wicked bend out of the far top corner, while Davide Frattesi had an effort charged down set up by Dumfries.

Barcelona turned the tie on its head at the 88^th minute when Sommer parried the first Raphinha strike at the near post, but could do nothing on his rebound.

RAPHINHA FIRES BARCELONA INTO THE LEAD 💥

His second shot fires into the back of the net and gives Barca a late lead!#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/7QsFjLu7os

— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) May 6, 2025

Lamine Yamal struck the base of the upright in stoppages on the counter-attack with a daisy-cutter from the edge of the area.

Just as it seemed to be over, Dumfries shrugged off Gerard Martin and rolled it across for Acerbi to smash into the roof of the net with his right foot. It was the 37-year-old centre-back’s first ever Champions League goal and he went as wild as the crowd at San Siro.

FRANCESCO ACERBI KEEPS INTER ALIVE 😱

His first ever UEFA Champions League goal comes at a crucial moment to level the tie 6-6!#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/denwcUUbzb

— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) May 6, 2025

Lamine Yamal fired straight at Sommer with the last kick of regular time, so it went to extra time.

Inter took first blood here too, as Thuram squirmed between two to pull back from the by-line, Mehdi Taremi laid it off for substitute Davide Frattesi, who sent Pau Cubarsi to ground with a dummy before bending his finish into the far bottom corner.

DAVIDE FRATTESI PUTS INTER AHEAD IN EXTRA TIME 🤯

Marcus Thuram’s excellent play in the box sets up the Italian perfectly to lead the tie 6-5!#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/MY4NLvtkSu

— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) May 6, 2025

Lewandowski nodded over from five yards on the Lamine Yamal cross, while Szczesny got down for a fingertip save on another Frattesi effort.

Sommer came to the rescue again with a sensational flying fingertip save to push the Lamine Yamal curler round the far top corner. Lamine Yamal also stung Sommer’s gloves at the near post, Lewandowski turning the rebound over.

Inter 4-3 Barcelona aet (7-6 agg)

Lautaro Martinez 21 (I), Calhanoglu pen 45 (I), Eric Garcia 54 (B), Dani Olmo 60 (B), Raphinha 88 (B), Acerbi 93 (I), Frattesi 99 (I)