Milan, Italy - Inter Milan pulled off a sensational comeback to seal their place in the UEFA Champions League final after a thrilling 7-6 aggregate victory over Barcelona — a match that will be remembered as one of the most electrifying semi-finals in tournament history.

With just moments left in stoppage time, veteran defender Francesco Acerbi sparked scenes of euphoria at the San Siro by smashing home an equaliser that tied the second leg 3-3 and kept Inter's dreams alive. The 37-year-old ripped off his shirt and sprinted into the night, unleashing a roar that echoed across the stadium.

But the drama didn't end there.

In the first half of extra time, substitute Davide Frattesi curled in a sublime left-footed finish to make it 4-3 on the night, sending the Italian champions into their second Champions League final in just three seasons. Frattesi climbed the barriers to celebrate with the home fans as Inter completed a heart-stopping turnaround.

Barcelona, who were minutes away from reaching their first final in a decade, were left stunned. After clawing back from 2-0 down for the second time in the tie, they thought they had done enough when Raphinha netted what looked like the winner in the 87th minute. But Inter had other plans.

The two-legged semi-final produced an astonishing 13 goals — equalling the all-time record for most goals in a Champions League semi-final, matching Liverpool’s 7-6 triumph over Roma in 2018.

Sommer Stands Tall as Inter Survive Late Scare

Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer played a crucial role in Inter’s survival, pulling off a string of decisive saves in the dying minutes, including two critical stops from teenage sensation Lamine Yamal — the second a one-handed save that denied a last-gasp equaliser.

Inter’s journey to the final began with a powerful opening: Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring after a sharp assist from Denzel Dumfries, and Hakan Calhanoglu calmly slotted home a penalty to extend their lead before halftime.

Barcelona responded with fight. Eric Garcia volleyed in to reduce the deficit before Dani Olmo made it 2-2 with a diving header. When Raphinha pounced on his own rebound late on, the Catalan giants were finally ahead on aggregate. But it wasn’t to be.

Inter Eye European Glory Again

Inter, who last won the Champions League in 2010 under Jose Mourinho, will now prepare for the 2025 final at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena on May 31. They will face the winner of the other semi-final between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, with the French side holding a narrow 1-0 lead heading into Wednesday’s second leg.

Simone Inzaghi, who guided Inter to the final in 2023 only to lose to Manchester City, now has a second shot at continental glory. His side are also locked in a tight Serie A title race with Napoli, just three points off the top with three games to go.

Barca Shift Focus to El Clasico After Crushing Exit

Barcelona’s European dreams may have ended in heartbreak, but there’s little time to dwell. Hansi Flick’s men still lead La Liga by four points and could take a massive step toward their 28th domestic title when they host rivals Real Madrid in Sunday’s El Clasico.

Having already bagged the Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España, Barca will aim to end their season on a high despite missing out on a return to the Champions League final for the first time since their 2015 triumph.

For now, the headlines belong to Inter — and to one of the greatest Champions League ties ever played.


WafricNews Sports Desk.