Inter Milan successfully advanced to the 2024/2025 Champions League final after defeating Barcelona with a score of 4-3 (Agg. 7-6) in the second leg of the semifinals held at Giuseppe Meazza, Wednesday (7/5/2025).
Inter actually led by two goals first, each through Lautaro Martinez’s goal and Hakan Calhanoglu’s penalty execution. However, the away team was able to bounce back.
Barca scored three goals in the second half, each through Eric Garcia, Dani Olmo, and Raphinha. At the end of the second half, Francesco Acerbi scored a goal to force the match into extra time.
In extra time, Davide Frattesi gave Inter a 4-3 lead. This score lasted until the end of the match and made Inter win on aggregate 7-6 after drawing 3-3 in the first leg.
Thanks to this result, Inter is entitled to advance to the final to face the winner of the PSG vs Arsenal match. The final duel is planned to be held at the Allianz Arena, Munich on June 1, 2025.
The match was open from the start. Both Inter and Barca played offensively and created a number of opportunities, unfortunately none of which resulted in goals.
Inter also succeeded in opening the lead first in the 21st minute. Starting with Federico Dimarco’s action in winning the ball in midfield, Denzel Dumfries easily provided a pass which was finished into a goal by Lautaro.
In the 42nd minute, referee Szymon Marciniak reviewed the VAR monitor after Pau Cubarsi brought down Lautaro in the penalty box. The referee then pointed to the penalty spot.
Calhanoglu did not waste this opportunity to score the home team’s second goal. The score of 2-0 for Inter’s advantage closed the first half.
Returning from the dressing room, Barca tried to play more aggressively. As a result, Eric Garcia succeeded in reducing the deficit in the 54th minute through a first-time volley shot following Gerard Martin’s crossing.
This goal became the momentum for Barca’s revival. Just six minutes later, the visitors managed to equalize the score to 2-2 through Olmo’s header, again utilizing Gerard Martin’s crossing.
Drama occurred at the end of the second half. Barca remarkably managed to turn the lead around through Raphinha’s shot in the 87th minute. The final was in sight.
However, Inter did not give up so easily. Acerbi managed to break through Wojciech Szczesny’s goal in the third minute of injury time through a close-range tap-in following Dumfries’ crossing.
The score of 3-3 made the aggregate equal 6-6. As a result, the match had to continue to extra time.
Entering extra time, the high tension continued. Inter took the lead for the umpteenth time after Frattesi successfully outwitted Szczesny in the 99th minute.
Barca played more aggressively in search of an equalizer. Unfortunately, the visitors’ chances through Yamal and Robert Lewandowski still failed to produce a goal.
The score of 4-3 for Inter’s advantage remained unchanged until the long whistle signaling the end of the second half of extra time sounded. Inter was entitled to advance to the final.
