MILAN — The San Siro erupted just before midnight as Inter Milan sealed a place in the Champions League final after one of the most breathless matches in the competition’s history. Davide Frattesi, a late substitute, delivered the final blow, securing a 4–3 win on the night and a 7–6 aggregate triumph over Barcelona.
It was football at its most chaotic. Inter looked home and dry by half-time. Barcelona thought they had won it with three minutes to play. But it was the Italian side who refused to lie down, forcing extra time and snatching victory in dramatic fashion.
“We witnessed something wild tonight,” said Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer, who pulled off two vital saves to deny Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal in the dying moments. “You play your whole career for nights like this.”
Frattesi’s 99th-minute winner—his only goal of the match—capped a relentless second leg that matched, and perhaps exceeded, the drama of Liverpool’s 7–6 semi-final win over Roma in 2018.
Early Domination, Sudden Collapse
Inter started fast, urged on by a packed home crowd. Lautaro Martínez opened the scoring in the 21st minute with a slick counterattack. Just before the break, Hakan Çalhanoğlu converted from the penalty spot, giving the hosts a two-goal cushion.
Then, as if someone flicked a switch, Barcelona came roaring back.
Eric García fired in a fine strike to reduce the deficit. Dani Olmo equalised just six minutes later. With Inter wobbling, Raphinha struck in the 87th minute, giving the Catalan club a 3–2 lead on the night—and the aggregate advantage.
But Inter weren’t done.
In stoppage time, with San Siro bracing for defeat, Denzel Dumfries found 37-year-old Francesco Acerbi unmarked in the box. Acerbi—playing in his 20th season—smashed home his first European goal, levelling the tie at 6–6 and sending the match into extra time.
Frattesi Seals the Deal
Nine minutes into extra time, Marcus Thuram made a powerful run down the right and slipped the ball to Frattesi, who took one touch before curling it low into the far corner.
The fans roared. The bench exploded. The final in Munich now awaits.
“I’ve never felt anything like it,” Frattesi told Sky Sport Italia. “I wasn’t even sure I’d be fit to play this week. The physios saved me. That one’s for them.”
Barcelona Left Reeling
Barcelona had come into the tie full of confidence. They’d just beaten Real Madrid in extra time to win the Copa del Rey and had hopes of a treble.
But football can be cruel.
“We gave everything,” García told Movistar Plus after the final whistle. “We came back again and again. This team has heart. But tonight, it just wasn’t enough.”
Despite the heartbreak, Barcelona still have LaLiga to fight for. They face Real Madrid again on Sunday, with a four-point lead at the top of the table.
A Final Awaits
Inter is now waiting to see who they’ll face in Munich—either Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal- who will meet on Wednesday night in the second leg of their semi-final.
For now, though, the blue and black half of Milan is celebrating a night that will be talked about for years.
“It’s not just about reaching the final,” said Inter manager Simone Inzaghi. “It’s how we did it—against that team, under that pressure. It was extraordinary.”
And extraordinary it was.
