Milan, Italy – In a night of unforgettable drama and emotion at the iconic San Siro, Inter Milan secured their place in the 2025 UEFA Champions League Final after defeating Barcelona 4–3 in a semi-final second-leg thriller that went to extra time. The result saw the Nerazzurri triumph 7–6 on aggregate, capping off one of the most extraordinary European ties in recent memory.
A Battle for the Ages
Inter entered the match trailing 3–2 from the first leg at Camp Nou. With the backing of a raucous home crowd, they came out firing. Lautaro Martínez gave Inter the lead early on, followed by a thunderous strike from Hakan Çalhanoğlu, turning the tie in their favor.
Barcelona, however, responded with the resilience that has defined their European campaign under new coach Hansi Flick. Goals from Eric García and Dani Olmo brought them back into the game. Then, in the 87th minute, Raphinha seemingly broke Inter hearts with a crucial goal that looked to have sealed the tie in favor of the Catalans.
But football had more drama in store.
Extra Time Heroics
Deep into stoppage time, Inter defender Francesco Acerbi bundled the ball into the net following a scramble, leveling the aggregate score and sending the match into extra time. Just minutes later, substitute Davide Frattesi delivered the decisive blow, latching onto a cross to fire Inter back into the lead — a goal that would ultimately prove the winner.
Sommer the Saviour
Veteran Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer was a standout performer for Inter, making several vital saves throughout the match, including a crucial one-on-one stop against Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal in extra time.
Controversy and Complaints
The match wasn’t without controversy. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick voiced his frustrations post-match, pointing to referee Szymon Marciniak’s officiating, particularly around the legality of Acerbi’s late goal, claiming a potential foul had been ignored.
Road to Munich
With this victory, Inter Milan secures a spot in the Champions League final, set to be played on May 31, 2025, at the Allianz Arena in Munich. They will face the winner of the other semi-final clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal.
This marks Inter’s second Champions League final appearance in four years — a testament to the resurgence of Italian football on the European stage.