Sacchi: ‘Barcelona 3-3 Inter a triumph of football, here is how Inzaghi can win’

BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 30: Marcus Thuram of FC Internazionale scores his team’s first goal whilst under pressure from Inigo Martinez and Pau Cubarsi of FC Barcelona during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between FC Barcelona and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on April 30, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Champions League winning coach Arrigo Sacchi analyses the ‘triumph of football’ that was the 3-3 semi-final draw, outlining how Inter can beat Barcelona in the 2^nd leg.

This was a truly thrilling encounter last night, which saw the Nerazzurri go 2-0 up through Marcus Thuram’s back-heel flick and a Denzel Dumfries acrobatic volley, only to be pegged back by half-time thanks to Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres.

Just moments after Dumfries struck again by nodding in a corner, Raphinha’s scorcher bounced in off Yann Sommer’s back when hitting the crossbar for the final 3-3 result.

“It was a marvellous match, the triumph of football,” Sacchi told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The coach transformed the tactical landscape in the late 1980s with Milan and won the Champions League twice, going on to take Italy to the 1994 World Cup Final too.

“Inter surged into that lead, but with Yamal being phenomenal and the Nerazzurri sitting back a bit too much, Barcelona were able to climb back up.

“In the second half, Inter had a more aggressive attitude, tried to attack Barcelona and not sit so deep. They were clearly stronger on set plays, and this must be a weapon to be exploited in the second leg.”

Inter managed to stall Barcelona momentum

Barcelona have won every Champions League home fixture this season except for two, drawing 2-2 with Atalanta and 3-3 with Inter.

“I’ll be honest, I expected better from Barcelona, especially in the second half,” noted Sacchi.

“Inter were capable of limiting them, closing the spaces, suffering under pressure when necessary. I want to congratulate Simone Inzaghi, because he understood how to make Barcelona struggle and proved he could play them on level terms.

“It’s true Barcelona had more possession and more chances, but Inter were 2-0 up, then 3-2, even scored for 4-3 when disallowed by centimetres. So it was a pretty even match, albeit with different playing styles.

“Barcelona’s defending is really terrible, they cannot leave these huge gaps straight after pressing,” added Sacchi.

“Inter proved how strong they are, even when in not great form recently and with fatigue taking its toll, but with character and wisdom they brought home a golden result. Not everyone goes to Barcelona and comes away unbeaten, we must remember that.”

How Inter can break Barcelona at San Siro

Dumfries was named Man of the Match, while Lamine Yamal on the other flank tortured Federico Dimarco.

“Dumfries was often given so much freedom by his opponents, and provided the assist for Thuram as well as scoring two goals. I really appreciated the work of the midfielders to help cover the defence. Despite Lamine Yamal’s talent with the ball at his feet, Barcelona did not win, because one man is not enough.”

This result means it will all be decided at San Siro, with the winner going on to face either PSG or Arsenal in the Champions League Final.

“I think Inter can do it. It would help to have Lautaro Martinez and Dimarco fully fit, but in terms of just football, I feel Inter have everything it takes to cause Barcelona huge problems at San Siro,” said Sacchi.

“They must make the most of those spaces that Barcelona regularly leave, and also focus heavily on set plays, because the Nerazzurri are clearly superior in that area. The other key is to stop the young talents from running at them, anticipate and block them off early.”