AFCON 2025
Barcelona and Inter Milan treated their fans and neutrals to an unforgettable 1st leg Champions League semi-final on Wednesday night.
The two heavyweights had a go at each other from start to finish but there was no winner on the night as the match ended in a pulsating three-all draw.
Barcelona came into the match as favorites and on the back of winning the Copa Del Rey over Real Madrid on Sunday.
However, it was the visitors that silenced the home crowd with an early goal less than two minutes after kickoff.
Inter Milan created a beautiful passage of play from long ball into midfield and straight to the right flank towards Denzel Dumfries.
The Dutchman layed a beautiful paas into the box for French striker Marcus Thuram who flicked the ball in with his backheel to put Inter Milan ahead.
Barcelona came quite close to at least equalizing moments later but Ferran Torres’ efforts went narrowly off target.
While Barcelona tried to get an equalizer, Inter Milan struck again as Dumfries fired an acrobatic effort into the back of the net after a loose ball in the box.
Down but not out, Lamine Yamal gave the jome fans hope as he pulled a goal back from a left-footed strike from the edge of the box.
Ferran Torres got to the head of a header from Raphinha in the box and tapped the ball into net to level the scoreline.
The first half ended two-goal a piece with Inter Milan deep in their half defending and attempting counter-attacks while Barcelona dominated possession.
Inter Milan went back ahead in the 64th minute from another set-piece and once again Denzel Dumfries punished Barcelona as he powered a header into the net from corner-kick.
Unfortunately, Inter Milan’s lead only lasted a minute. Raphinha powered a ferocious strike outside the box which ricochetted off Yan Sommer’s head.
The enthralling encounter appeared to be heading for a 3-3 draw until former Manchester United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan put Inter Milan ahead again.
However, his goal was ruled for offside – howbeit marginal.
The entertaining 1st leg semi-final ended three-all with all to play for in the second leg at the Guiseppe Meazza next week.
