Inter Milan defended doggedly and snatched a notorious win against FC Barcelona. Their sensational display earned them a place in the UEFA Champions League final after a meteoric 7-6 aggregate victory. Their semifinal match, which was played on Wednesday at the legendary San Siro, was a display of Inter superiority, especially in the first half. With this victory, Inter hopes to secure its fourth Champions League championship, and it would be the team’s first in 15 years.
From the start, Inter took complete command of the game. Lautaro Martínez gave Inter the 1-0 lead, finishing off a lightning quick counter-attack in the 21st minute, proving to be an important crucial goal. Right before the half, Hakan Çalhanoglu converted a penalty after a foul on Dumfries, putting Inter up two goals. By the end of the first half, Inter were 2-0 up and in complete control.
Inter’s new goalkeeper, Yann Sommer, was the star of the first half in keeping this lead intact. He then produced two spectacular saves from Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, keeping Barcelona completely out of the game going into the half. Sommer’s display was key to Inter surviving until the break without being broken down.
Although they were ahead by two goals, the second half was a struggle for Inter with Barcelona coming back at them with everything they had. Eric García remarked on the resilience of his team, stating, “We were down 2-0 again and the character this team showed was remarkable.” No matter what combination they tried, Barcelona just couldn’t find a way past Inter’s defensive wall.
When the final score was tied after regular time and the match continued into overtime, the atmosphere only intensified. In what could have been a dramatic finish, Marcus Thuram broke down the right wing in the 99th minute. He then technically placed a precise pass into the final third, allowing Davide Frattesi to have a crucial chance. Frattesi capped off a wonderful display by curling a shot into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 and send Inter through to the final.
“I’m lucky to have finished the game, I screamed so much that I saw everything black,” – Davide Frattesi
Following this victory, Inter Milan will meet either Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal in the final. With even more at stake considering they are looking to atone for a loss to Manchester City in the final two years ago. The heartbreaking but inspiring journey the team has taken, right up to making it back to the finals for the first time since 1977.
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