Inter Milan Beat Barcelona in 7-6 Thriller to Reach Champions League Final

Inter Milan has secured their place in the 2024-25 Champions League final after a spectacular 7-6 aggregate win over FC Barcelona.

After a 3-3 score in Spain last week, the second leg in Milan was just as spectacular, finishing 4-3 after extra time, thanks to one of the most open-ended Champions League knockout ties in recent years. It ties the highest-scoring CL semifinal in history, with Liverpool and Roma also seeing an aggregate score of 7-6. On that occasion, the Reds prevailed with a 5-2 score at Anfield, and Roma won 4-2 in the return leg.

It felt like an uncharacteristic game of football in an era that prioritizes methodical tactics and low blocks. Barcelona dominated possession 71%-29%, and recorded more shots on target (10 to 7) and a higher xG (2.74 to 2.28). Despite the overall dominance, Inter went 2-0 up before halftime, but Barcelona pulled it back 2-2 by the 60th minute. Barcelona then took the lead after Raphinha scored a goal from a deflected save off goalkeeper Yann Sommer, but Inter spectacularly equalized 3-3 via Francesco Acerbi in the dying minutes of normal time to force another 30 minutes of play. The winning goal came from Inter’s Davide Frattesi, whose left-footed shot went past Wojciech Szczesny in the far post.

For the second time in three years, Inter Milan are through to the Champions League final. In the 2023 final, they were defeated by Manchester City 1-0 from a second-half Rodri strike.

Their opponent in the final will be one of Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain. The two will meet for their second leg at the Parc des Princes in Paris on May 7th, with PSG going into the match with a 1-0 aggregate lead.

In Italy’s Serie A, Inter are three points off leaders Napoli with three games left to play. The Champions League final will take place on May 31st, six days after their final Serie A match of the season against Como.