BARCELONA and Inter Milan’s scintillating Champions League semi-final first leg has come to an end – and it was one for the history books!
Marcus Thuram scored with an audacious flick inside THIRTY SECONDS before Denzel Dumfries followed up with a spectacular bicycle kick a little over twenty minutes later.
Lamine Yamal scored a solo strike to make it 2-1, and then Ferran Torres temporarily levelled the scoreline.
Dumfries then popped up with his second goal of the night to restore Inter’s lead, but a minute later, Raphina fired one in from long range, which rattled the bar before deflecting in off Yann Sommer.
- RESULT: Barcelona 3-3 Inter
- Live stream: Discovery+
- TV channel: TNT Sports 1
- Barcelona starting XI: Scczesny; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Martin; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha; Ferran
- Inter starting XI: Sommer; Bisseck, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitarayan, Dimarco; Martinez, Thuram
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Dumfries follows in Sneijder’s footsteps
Despite Lamine Yamal’s eye-catching performance, it was Denzil Dumfries that picked up UEFA’s Man of the Match award.
Inter’s defender scored twice – one a spectacular scissor kick – and set up Marcus Thuram for the early opener.
He also laid on another for Henrikh Mkhitaryan with a delicious right-wing cross, but that goal was chalked off for the most marginal of offsides.
The flying Dutchman was a constant menace along the right touchline all evening, and became the first player from his country to both score and assist in a Champions League semi-final since Wesley Sneijder in April 2010, who also did so for Inter while playing against Barcelona.
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Inzaghi impressed by generational talent
Simone Inzaghi believes Lamine Yamal is the kind of footballer that comes along once in a generation.
Speaking after his side’s 3-3 draw at Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, the Inter coach admitted he was impressed after seeing the 17-year-old perform in person.
However, Inzaghi also revealed he was delighted with how his players responded to the task of tracking the teenager, and hopes for more of the same in the second leg.
At half-time, we changed a little. We had to mark Lamine Yamal even better – that guy really impacted on me tonight. He really did. So we wanted to play and press much higher up the pitch. My guys didn’t have much rest after the Roma game, but they gave everything and impressed me. Lamine is the kind of talent that comes along every 50 years, and to see him up close really impressed me. I’m really enthusiastic about what my lads did. They worked really hard against him, doubling and tripling up on him
Simone Inzaghi
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Barca face ‘final before final’
According to Barcelona boss Hansi Flick, Barcelona will have to win two finals to be crowned European champions.
The German tactician was proud of how his side fought back after a slow start at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, but knows a huge test awaits them in Milan next Tuesday.
We didn’t start well tonight, but we got right back into the match. The second half was spectacular. There’s one leg of this tie left and we have to win it. I think this qualifies for that description of the ‘final before the final!
Hansi Flick
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Raphinha revelling on the biggest stage
While Lamine Yamal stole the headlines, it was another excellent evening for Raphinha.
The former Leeds ace forced Barcelona’s third goal with a stunning strike that eventually went in off Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
The Brazilian also set up Ferran Torres for the second, an assist that took his goal involvements in this season’s Champions League to 20 (12 goals and 8 assists)
It means only Cristiano Ronaldo (17 goals and 4 assists in 2013-14) has registered more goal involvements in a single Champions League campaign.
Meanwhile, only Luís Figo (9 in 1999-00) has provided more assists in a single season in the competition than Raphinha’s eight this term.
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Mkhitaryan: We couldn’t stop Yamal
Inter star Henrikh Mkhitaryan admitted that he and his teammates struggled to cope with 17-year-old superstar Lamine Yamal.
The Spanish teenager came to the fore with Barcelona 2-0 down and dragged his side back into the tie.
And afterwards, former United midfielder Mkhitaryan spoke in glowing terms of the winger, but added that the Italian outfit were determined not to allow him so much space in the return.
The whole world can see what a good footballer he is. He’s a player who shines. We tried to stop him, but that was so difficult because he’s got great talent. I hope we don’t let him play this much next week.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan
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Young Yamal in good company
Barca superstar Lamine Yamal became just the second teenager to score in the last 16, quarter-final and semi-final within a single Champions League campaign.
The other? A certain Kylian Mbappe for Monaco in 2016-17.
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Fast off the Marc
Marcus Thuram’s audacious opener after exactly 30 seconds was the second earliest goal Internazionale have ever scored in a Champions League tie, after Dejan Stankovic’s equally flamboyant strike against Schalke in April 2011 (26 seconds).
It was also the second earliest goal Barcelona have conceded from the start of a game in the competition after Alexandre Pato’s strike for Milan in September 2011 (24 seconds).
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Yamal lights up Champions League
At 17 years and 291 days, Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal became the youngest ever scorer in a Champions League semi-final, a record previously held by Kylian Mbappw (18y 140d).
Tonight was also Yamal’s 100th appearance for Barcelona across all competitions with only Jules Koundé (107) and Robert Lewandowski (104) having played more games for the club since the Spaniard’s debut in April 2023.
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Match Stats from Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys
And so ends the joint-highest scoring Champions League semi-final game, ranking alongside a 3-3 draw between Dynamo Kyiv and Bayern Munich in the first leg of their clash in 1998-99.
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Full time – Barcelona 3-3 Inter
There’s your answer.
An incredible night of football comes to a close, but it’s all set up for more of the same in Milan next Tuesday.
This crazy, chaotic evening of Champions League football was full of sublime skill, wonder goals and shambolic defending.
Inter led 2-0 and then 3-2, but Barca fought back on each occasion to ensure a memorable contest ended all square.
Seventeen-year-old Lamine Yamal starred for the hosts, while Denzil Dumfries picked up the Man of the Match award with two goals and an assist.
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Barcelona 3-3 Inter
90. Three minutes of stoppage time are signalled just as Raphinha unleashes another belter from long range.
Sommer tips this one over for a corner, and as Barca’s brilliant Brazilian rushes over to take it, he urges the crowd for one last push.
Can they find a winner? Or will Inter stick it out?
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Barcelona 3-3 Inter
89. It’s a late charge from Barcelona!
Inter have every player behind the ball as the Spanish giants move it left and right in an attempt to make space.
The Serie A side are sticking to the task though, and will be delighted if they can see these final minutes through.
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Barcelona 3-3 Inter
87. Off the crossbar!
Yamal also steers Barca in front for the first time with an audacious chip, an effort that catches out opponents, fans and commentators alike.
The lift on the run is so delicate that Sommer doesn’t even move as it rises up and over him, and back off the woodwork.
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Barcelona 3-3 Inter
84. Barcelona have only ever won once away at Inter Milan, and that was back in 1959.
If they want to take a lead with them to Italy, then they will need to find another goal in these remaining minutes.
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Barcelona 3-3 Inter
82. One of La Masia’s golden generation replaces another as Gavi comes on to take over from Pedri.
Also for Barca is former Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen, and he takes over from Pau Cubarsí.
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Barcelona 3-3 Inter
80. Inside the final ten minutes of what has been an extraordinary night in Spain.
Two of Inter’s stars – Marcus Thuram and Denzil Dumfries – will play no further part this evening, and it’s time for Piotr Zielinski and Matteo Darmian to play their role from the bench.
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Barcelona 3-3 Inter
77. Yamal teases Barella into conceding a free-kick 22 yards out, and this is very much in Raphinha range.
The Brazilian immediately takes charge of the set-piece, and who can blame him given his form this season?
His left-foot effort around the wall is sweet enough, but Sommer uses all of his experience to comfortably deal with it.
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Barcelona 3-3 Inter
74. Henrikh Mkhitaryan has the ball in the back of the net for a fourth Inter goal…
…but it’s not going to count.
The offside flag was immediately up as soon as the Armenian had swept in a terrific Dumfries cross, but it seems a lot closer than everyone initially thinks.
In fact, replays show it’s incredibly close.
Eventually, the offside call is upheld, but trust me, there was barely anything in it.
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Barcelona 3-3 Inter
72. Cubarsi picks up a yellow card for a shirt pull on Taremi.
Again, considering the high line that the hosts operate with, you wouldn’t want to be a Barcelona defender on a booking.
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Barcelona 3-3 Inter
70. A brilliant recovery challenge from Pau Cubarsi denies Thuram a strike on goal.
Mind you, it was only some careless defending from the Spaniard and Barcelona’s ridiculous high line that let the Inter striker through in the first place.
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Barcelona 3-3 Inter
67. What happens next in this tie?!
Whatever does occur, it won’t involve Dani Olmo, who has now been replaced by Fermin Lopez.
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Barcelona 3-3 Inter
65. What a belter from Raphinha!
Seconds after falling behind, Barca hit back through a corner of their own – and this one has a lot more finesse about it.
Dani Olmo pulls back the dead ball towards the edge of the penalty area, Lamine Yamal lets it run through his legs, and Raphinha races on to it to smash.
The shot arrows through the air from 25 yards out, crashes against the crossbar, and ricochets into the net off the back of Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
It will go down as an own goal, but owes so much to a stunning strike from the former Leeds man.
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Level again!
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Barcelona 2-3 Inter
65. This game is absurd. Absolutely ridiculous. Daft as anything I’ve seen in a while.
And I coach an Under 6s team on Saturday mornings.
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Barcelona 2-3 Inter
63. Well, well, well! Inter Milan are back in front!
This one lacks the flair of the first two, but is every bit as important.
Hakan Calhanoglu swings over a corner from the right, and Denzil Dumfries gets up to nod in without much of a challenge.
The Dutchman’s header comes off the shoulder of Dani Olmo, and that probably helps it to find the target.
Internazionale have struck three times in Barcelona!
