Inter Milan vs Barcelona: 4-3 UCL Semifinal Win Sends Inter to Munich

In a breathtaking UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg at San Siro on Tuesday night (May 6, 2025), Inter Milan defeated Barcelona 4-3 after extra time, securing a 7-6 win on aggregate. It was a match packed with drama, tactical brilliance, individual moments of magic, and a rollercoaster of emotions — all under the floodlights of one of Europe’s most iconic stadiums.

The hero of the night was Davide Frattesi, who scored the decisive goal in the 99th minute, sending the Nerazzurri into their first Champions League final since the 2009-10 treble-winning season.

First Half: Inter Fires Early, Barcelona Stumbles

Coming into the match after a dramatic 3-3 draw at Camp Nou, both teams knew they needed something special. Inter Milan, playing in front of a packed home crowd at San Siro, came out with intensity and purpose.

• 21st minute – Lautaro Martínez strikes first: The Argentine striker, who has been in excellent form this season, latched onto a clever pass from Denzel Dumfries and finished with precision to give Inter an early lead.

• 44th minute – Çalhanoğlu makes it two: Just before halftime, a defensive lapse from Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsí saw him commit a foul on Martínez in the box. After a VAR check, a penalty was awarded. Turkish midfielder Hakan Çalhanoğlu converted coolly, doubling Inter’s lead and putting them ahead on aggregate.

At halftime, the mood at San Siro was electric. Inter were up 2-0 on the night and leading 5-3 on aggregate. Barcelona looked rattled, lacking cohesion and unable to find rhythm.

Second Half: Barcelona Roars Back with Stunning Goals

If the first half belonged to Inter, the second was all about Barcelona’s resurgence.

• 54th minute – Eric García pulls one back: After sustained pressure, García latched onto a cross inside the box and volleyed past Yann Sommer, igniting hopes of a comeback.

• 60th minute – Dani Olmo levels the game: Just six minutes later, Olmo’s powerful header from a Gerard Martín assist found the back of the net. The tie was now level on the night (2-2), and Inter’s aggregate lead had shrunk to 5-5.

• 87th minute – Raphinha flips the tie: In a dramatic twist, Brazilian winger Raphinha showcased his persistence. His initial shot was parried by Sommer, but he was quick to react and fired home the rebound. That goal gave Barcelona a 3-2 lead on the night and a 6-5 lead on aggregate — a potential ticket to the final.

Inter were on the brink of elimination.

Injury-Time Equalizer: Acerbi’s First-Ever UCL Goal

Just when Barcelona thought they had sealed their place in the final, Francesco Acerbi, Inter’s veteran center-back, delivered a shocking twist.

• 93rd minute – Acerbi’s historic moment: The 37-year-old, thrown forward in a desperate move by Simone Inzaghi, found himself in the right place at the right time. After a scramble in the box, Acerbi scored his first-ever goal in European football, making it 3-3 on the night and 6-6 on aggregate.

The goal sent the San Siro into raptures and pushed the match into extra time.

Extra Time: Frattesi Becomes a Hero

• 99th minute – Davide Frattesi delivers: With nerves jangling and both teams pushing for the winner, Inter’s substitute Frattesi produced the moment of the match. From just inside the box, he curled a perfectly placed strike past Barcelona’s goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny (who replaced Ter Stegen due to injury), making it 4-3 on the night and 7-6 on aggregate.

Frattesi celebrated wildly, climbing the metal barriers and roaring in front of a jubilant Curva Nord, as chants of “Inter! Inter!” echoed around the stadium.

Defensive Brilliance: Sommer’s Key Saves

Inter still had work to do to protect their lead. Barcelona, with one last surge, nearly found the equalizer:

• Lamine Yamal’s chance denied: The 17-year-old sensation almost equalized in the 113th minute, but Sommer produced an outstanding save to tip the shot wide. His composure in goal and ability to handle pressure earned him the Player of the Match award.

Post-Match Reactions

Simone Inzaghi (Inter Milan Head Coach):

“First of all, I want to congratulate Barcelona — they are a truly strong team,” said Inzaghi in a post-match interview with Sky Sports. “But this was a super Inter. These boys gave everything they had. They played with heart, with quality, with sacrifice.”

He added:

“We had a clear game plan after the first leg. Without unity, it wouldn’t have worked. I’m proud to be their coach. They deserve this final.”

Hansi Flick (Barcelona Manager):

“This is a bitter pill to swallow,” said Flick. “We gave everything. I’m proud of my team. This is a young squad and they fought till the end.”

“When they look at themselves in the mirror tonight, they can be proud. We’ll take this pain and turn it into motivation. We will be back next season stronger.”

Flick acknowledged areas of improvement:

“Inter’s strikers were experienced and clinical. We must improve defensively and work on decision-making. Still, we’re building something special here.”

What’s Next for Inter Milan?

With this sensational victory, Inter Milan has booked their place in the 2025 UEFA Champions League Final, scheduled for May 31 at the Allianz Arena in Munich.

They will face the winner of the other semifinal clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, who play their second leg on Wednesday.

Match Stats at a Glance

Inter Milan now dreams of lifting the European crown once again. For Barcelona, it’s heartbreak — but also a glimpse of a promising future.

The Information is Collected from ESPN and Yahoo.