In what will likely be remembered as an iconic Champions League battle, Barcelona and Inter Milan obtained their respective semi-final journey underway with a sensational 3-3 stalemate in Catalonia.
Whereas the Nerazzurri may need travelled to Spain within the midst of a serious rut, Inter took a exceptional 30 second lead as French worldwide Marcus Thuram produced a wise end and silenced the house assist.
Flying out of the traps, Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries doubled Inter’s lead due to a sensational overhead kick 20 minutes later and seemed to be storming their strategy to a heavyweight European scalp.
Nevertheless, with the strain at a boiling level, 17-year-old famous person Lamine Yamal flipped the script as Barca’s attacking talisman struck an exquisite solo effort in what was his a hundredth appearances for the membership.
In a rollercoaster first-half from Catalonia, Ferran Torres accomplished Barca’s comeback because the ex-Manchester Metropolis star completed off a free-flowing transfer seven minutes earlier than the break.
Regardless of it wanting inevitable at some factors that Barcelona would add a 3rd, it was Inter’s flip to as soon as once more silence the house assist.
Dumfries scored his second of the night time within the 63rd minute to revive Inter’s lead when he rose highest to satisfy Hakan Calhanoglu’s nook.
However Barca once more responded in dramatic style simply seconds later when a surprising strike from Raphinha clattered in opposition to the bar, earlier than rebounding off the again of a helpless Yann Sommer.
The 2 European giants will meet on the San Siro subsequent week with a semi-final spot firmly hanging within the stability.
In what was a Champions League thriller from Catalonia on Wednesday night time, we’ve got taken a take a look at the primary speaking factors from Catalonia.
Barcelona miss out on the possibility to say a first-leg benefit
Whereas Barcelona may need mounted a pair of comebacks in Catalonia on Wednesday night time, Flick’s facet will know that they’ve an enormous uphill battle on their palms subsequent week.
Topped Copa del Rey champions in midweek after gathering a sensational 3-2 victory in opposition to Actual Madrid, Barca have their sights set on finishing an iconic silverware sweep in 2025.
Nevertheless, though Flick’s males may need continued to obtain a string of plaudits from throughout the continent, defensive struggles will likely be a rising concern for the German tactician.
With a 3-1 loss in opposition to Borussia Dortmund on April fifteenth their solely defeat throughout any competitors to this point this calendar 12 months, Barca also needs to be involved by their most up-to-date journey to Milan.
Falling to a 1-0 loss after they travelled to the San Siro for a bunch stage showdown again in October 2020, the previous Bayern Munich boss will definitely be ruing a missed alternative right here.
One other away day success for Inter
Watching their Coppa Italia journey come to an notorious finish on April twenty third as they slumped to a 3-0 drumming in opposition to arch-rivals AC Milan, Inter travelled to Catalonia on Wednesday within the midst of a record-breaking rut.
Dropping three consecutive appearances throughout all competitions for the primary time since 2019, Simone Inzaghi’s males have been considered a landslide underdog by many right here.
Nevertheless, getting their quarter-final marketing campaign underway with a 2-1 victory away at German giants Bayern Munich earlier within the month, the Nerazzurri will go away Spain felling like they’ve come out on prime.
Feeling like they’re sat within the driving seat after they return to Milan subsequent week, Wednesday’s visitors have gained a fearsome status for his or her European success on the San Siro.
Not struggling a single Champions League defeat in entrance of their very own supporters since September 2022, Inter are unbeaten in all of their final 15 consecutive appearances (12 wins, three attracts).
Yamal steals the present in Catalonia
Whereas the red-hot Raphinha may need opened Wednesday’s first-leg showdown having notched 12 targets in as many Champions League appearances, it’s Barca’s academy graduate who has stolen loads of the headlines round Catalonia.
Spearheading Spain’s cost to a historic fourth European crown final summer season, Yamal has loved a exceptional rise to superstardom.
Dragging Flick’s facet again into the sport halfway by way of the first-half due to what was a sensational solo effort, the 17-year-old sensation has even been billed as a possible Ballon d’Or contender.
Shortly changing into the poster boy round Catalonia and now rightfully considered a generational expertise, Yamal has continued to shatter a string of data.
Already making 100 appearances for the Spanish icons and producing 55 direct aim contributions, eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi had solely registered 9 outings by the age of 17.
Match Report
Barcelona: Szczesny, Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Martin, de Jong, Pedri, Olmo, Yamal, Raphinha, Torres
Subs: Araujo, Christensen, Garcia, Gavi, Lopez
Inter Milan: Sommer, Bisseck, Acerbi, Bastoni, Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco, Thuram, Martinez
Subs: Augusto, Frattesi, Darmian, Taremi, Zielinski
Objectives: Barcelona: Yamal (24’), Torres (38’), Sommer OG (65’) – Inter Milan: Thuram (1’), Dumfries (21’, 63’)
Yellow Playing cards: Barcelona: Cubarsi – Inter Milan: Calhanoglu
Crimson Playing cards: N/A
Referee: Clement Turpin
