Player Ratings and Match Highlights

Inter Milan beat Barcelona 4-3 on the night and 7-6 on aggregate in one of the all-time great Champions League semi-finals. Inter looked dangerous early on against Barcelona’s high defensive line. San Siro erupted when Lautaro Martinez gave the Italian side the lead in the twenty-first minute. Frankie de Jong was dispossessed in his own half by Federico Dimarco, who put the perfect ball forward to Denzel Dumfries, who had the presence of mind to square to Martinez, who side footed into an empty net.

Barcelona’s press saw Dani Olmo break forward to give Lamine Yamal an opportunity to shoot, but his effort went wide. Martinez then won a penalty after VAR adjudged Pau Cubarsi to have fouled him. Hakan Calhanoglu stepped up to roll home the penalty. Inter continued to look dominant in the second half, but it was Barcelona who pulled one back after a Gerard Martin cross was met by a stunning side-footed volley from Eric Garcia.

Garcia then looked to have scored the equaliser, but Yann Sommer pulled off an exceptional save. Yet Barcelona were not to be denied. Martin provided the delivery once more and Dani Olmo arrived unmarked on the back post to head in the equaliser, making it five each on aggregate with 30 minutes of normal time to play. Lamine Yamal looked to have won Barcelona a penalty, until VAR adjudged Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s foul was just outside the box.

By the last 10 minutes, Inter looked dead on their feet, needing the five substitutions they made in the second half. Barcelona then made the ultimate comeback, when Pedri released Raphinha. The Brazilian’s initial strike was saved by Sommer, but he made no mistake on the rebound, smashing the ball home with just three minutes left.

With little evidence to suggest it would happen, 37-year-old Francesco Acerbi made it 3-3 on the night in the third minute of injury time. This classic Champions League semi-final saw Inter regain the lead in the first period of extra time, when Barcelona stood off Davide Frattesi, who placed the ball in the bottom corner after good work from Marcus Thuram. There was a further chance for Barcelona, but Sommer made a stunning save from Yamal. It wasn’t to be for Barcelona, on what was an incredible night for Inter.

Match Highlights

Inter Milan Player Ratings

Formation: 3-5-2

GK: Yann Sommer – 8/10 – Player of the Match

Made an incredible save to deny Eric Garcia his second goal and, in a game of such drama, this was a key moment. Then made a further stunning save at the death to deny Yamal.

DF: Yann Bisseck – 6/10

Looked solid initially, but was unable to prevent Barcelona drawing level.

DF: Francesco Acerbi – 6.5/10

Looked every inch the wily competitor, but would not have been happy to see Olmo head home unmarked, but scored a last-gasp equaliser.

DF: Alessandro Bastoni – 6/10

Kept going and had to as Barcelona looked to turn the screw.

RWB: Denzel Dumfries – 6/10

Was very composed to square the ball to Martinez and looked to punish Barcelona’s high line.

CM: Nicolo Barella – 6.5/10

Inter needed his experience as the game reached its climax.

CM: Hakan Calhanoglu – 6.5/10

Calm and composed when tucking away the penalty, but brought off with 10 minutes of normal time left.

CM: Henrikh Mkhitaryan – 6.5/10

Rolled back the years and offered a threat going forward for Inter, but tired as the game went on.

LWB: Federico Dimarco – 7/10

Went about his business with purpose and speed and put the perfect ball forward that led to Martinez’s goal.

FWD: Lautaro Martinez – 7/10

Had a big impact on the game before being brought off with 15 minutes left.

FWD: Marcus Thuram – 6.5/10

Looked isolated at times in the second-half as Barcelona had a greater influence, but made a great run to create Inter’s fourth goal.

SUB: Matteo Darmian – 6/10

Given an opportunity with 20 minutes of normal time left and was hanging on for dear life until Inter’s injury time leveller.

SUB: Carlos Augusto – 6/10

Not quite as influential as DiMarco, the man he replaced.

SUB: Davide Frattesi – 7/10

Made the vital contribution of putting Inter 7-6 up on aggregate in extra-time as Barcelona failed to close him down.

SUB: Piotr Zielinski – 6/10

Not quite as composed as Calhanoglu, the player he came on for, but Inter needed his fresh legs.

SUB: Mehdi Taremi – 5/10

Failed to have an influence.

Barcelona Player Ratings

Formation: 4-2-3-1

GK: Wojciech Szczesny – 6/10

Was nothing the Pole could have done to prevent either of Inter’s first-half goals.

RB: Eric Garcia – 7/10

Scored a wonderfully controlled volley and will probably have thought he should have scored a second.

CB: Pau Cubarsi – 5/10

Controversy over whether his tackle was sufficient to give away a penalty, but the challenge he made was risky.

CB: Inigo Martinez – 6/10

Looked vulnerable at times with Barcelona playing such a high line.

LB: Gerard Martin – 7/10

He was responsible for the deliveries that created both Barcelona goals.

DM: Pedri – 7/10

Kept the ball well and kept Barcelona ticking over nicely.

DM: Frankie de Jong – 6/10

Caught on the ball in the first-half, which led to Inter taking the lead, but improved in the second period.

RW: Lamine Yamal – 7/10

Stifled out of the game in the first-half as Barcelona lost their heads. Put in a wonderful cross that Lewandowski failed to score.

AM: Dani Olmo – 7/10

Drove forward on several occasions with real purpose when he had the opportunity.

LW: Raphinha – 5/10

Not really able to get into the game until scoring what looked to be the winner until Inter forced extra time.

CF: Ferran Torres – 5/10

Not able to impact this thrilling game as much as he would have liked.

SUB: Ronald Araujo – 6/10

Replaced Martinez at the back with 14 minutes of normal time left, would have hoped to have blocked Acerbi’s equaliser.

SUB: Fermin Lopez – 6/10

Brought on late in normal time for Olmo as the game entered its crescendo.

SUB: Robert Lewandowski – 5/10

Had a great chance that he failed to convert to make it four each.

SUB: Hector Fort – 6/10

Came on in extra time for Garcia.

SUB: Pau Victor – 5/10

Thrown on in the second period of extra time with Barcelona looking for a way back.

SUB: Gavi – 5/10

Given the final 15 minutes to help find Barcelona an all-important goal.