Inter beat Barcelona 7-6 on aggregate to reach Champions League final
Frattesi gives Italians extra-time win in one of greatest semi-finals of all time
Acerbi earlier scored stoppage-time equaliser after Barca had come from 5-3 down to lead 6-5 thanks to goals from Garcia, Olmo & Raphinha
Martinez & Calhanoglu penalty had put hosts two goals ahead on night
Inter will face Arsenal or PSG in final in Munich on Saturday, 31 May
So, Inter Milan beat Barcelona in an all-time classic Champions League tie to book their place in the final in Munich on 31 May.
Over to you, Arsenal and Paris St-Germain.
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: Inter Milan 4-3 Barcelona (7-6 agg)
Have a read of the match report at the top of this page and don't forget we'll have the highlights from both tonight and the PSG v Arsenal semi-final from 22:00 BST tomorrow.
Not sure how our video team are going to squish all that drama into a couple of minutes but hey ho.
FT: Inter Milan 4-3 Barcelona (7-6 agg)
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: Inter Milan 4-3 Barcelona (7-6 agg)
Daniel Sturridge
Former Liverpool striker on Amazon Prime
Every single time he [Lamine Yamal] was knocking at the door Yann Sommer was answering.
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: Inter Milan 4-3 Barcelona (7-6 agg)
Inter Milan
Inter Milan's goalkeeper, Yann Sommer speaking to Amazon Prime: "It was a crazy game. I am really proud of this team and how we played.
"We were already kind of out and then we came back - amazing.
"It means a lot - you don't have a lot of chances to go to a final. We knew that in the last four minutes of extra time that it was our last chance to go through.
"We put everything on this pitch with the fans together."
FT: Inter Milan 4-3 Barcelona (7-6 agg)
A lot of talk of young superstars before this match.
But Francesco Acerbi’s 93rd minute equaliser for Inter saw him become the second oldest scorer in a Champions League semi-final (37y 85d) after Ryan Giggs for Manchester United v Schalke in 2010-11 (37y & 148d).
A sweet, sweet moment for the Italian.
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: Inter Milan 4-3 Barcelona (7-6 agg)
Inter Milan
Inter Milan full-back Matteo Darmian, speaking to Amazon Prime: "We never give up. That's Inter - we play with heart."
On Francesco Acerbi scoring: "I don't know why he was there, but he was in the right position in the perfect moment."
FT: Inter Milan 4-3 Barcelona (7-6 agg)
Two years ago Inter Milan reached the Champions League final and narrowly lost out to Manchester City in Istanbul.
Is this their year?
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: Inter Milan 4-3 Barcelona (7-6 agg)
Barcelona
Barcelona's Eric Garcia, speaking to Amazon Prime: "I think in the first half going 2-0 down was tough. The reaction we had in the second half was amazing.
"We had even more chances to close the game.
"It is from decisions made, but that is football and we need to be really proud of what we did."
On Inter Milan's penalty: "For me, the first one Curbasi, I was really close, for me it is never a pen."
On the rest of the season: "We have got to get going, we need to be proud.
"Our fans this season we had - nobody believed in us at the beginning [of the season]. A lot of changes and changing the manager, really young players and we need to be proud."
FT: Inter Milan 4-3 Barcelona (7-6 agg)
Many predicted that Barcelona's all-out attack and dangerous high line would eventually come back to bite them.
But boy was it entertaining. Will Hansi Flick change his tactics? Who knows but for what it's worth, I kind of hope he doesn't.
FT: Inter Milan 4-3 Barcelona (7-6 agg)
There were lots of tears on the pitch at full time.
Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Pedri. All looked gutted to be missing out on the Champions League final. For sure we'll see plenty more of them in the future.
But what about Robert Lewandowski? At 36-years-old, was this his last go at European silverware?
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: Inter Milan 4-3 Barcelona (7-6 agg)
Barcelona
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick: "I'm very disappointed that we're out - but I'm not disappointed about the performance of my team. They tried everything.
"We're out, but next year we'll start again and we'll make our fans, the club and everyone around us happy.
"They [Inter] are a really good team, a strong team who defend well but also they have a really good striker.
"In the second half we were really good. I don't want to speak about the referee but every 50/50 decision was for them. We gave everything but in the end it was like that and that's what made me a bit sad."
FT: Inter Milan 4-3 Barcelona (7-6 agg)
Clarence Seedorf
Former Inter Milan midfielder on Amazon Prime
Marcus Thuram, we should not forget he came back a week ago after two training sessions. Today he did the full 120-miuntes and how he played in the last 15-minutes, he was the extra man.
#bbcfootball, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
That game of football was as good as it gets. Awesome. And to think I nearly watched Partick Thistle vs Ayr United on BBC Scotland. Proper buzzing after watching that incredible semi-final.
Ian, South Ayrshire
FT: Inter Milan 4-3 Barcelona (7-6 agg)
Inter Milan
Image source, Getty ImagesInter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez, speaking to Amazon Prime: "I am so happy.
"I am so proud of Inter Milan, I am so grateful to the fans and to my family who are here today.
"I wasn't in a great place and I wasn't 100% today, but the medical staff worked so hard to get me match fit.
"We will do what we can - we just have one more step to go. We want to go there and win it. We will do all we can to ensure that we get Inter Milan to the high summit of European football."
FT: Inter Milan 4-3 Barcelona (7-6 agg)
Clarence Seedorf
Former Inter Milan midfielder on Amazon Prime
I think we have had enough of the emotions of today! First half, Inter were supreme. Barcelona come into it second half definitely with a different spirit. The thing that amazed me is Inter never really gives up.
FT: Inter Milan 4-3 Barcelona (7-6 agg)
A big shout out to Denzel Dumfries, who either scored (2) or assisted (3) five of Inter’s seven goals against Barcelona in this tie, having had just three goal involvements in his first 39 appearances in the competition (1 goal, 2 assists).
He was absolutely supreme over the two legs.
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: Inter Milan 4-3 Barcelona (7-6 agg)
Inter Milan
Image source, Getty ImagesInter Milan's Denzel Dumfries, speaking to Amazon Prime: "Crazy match, again. Seven goals today. It was incredible, we fought until the end, but very proud of the way we fought today. Overall, very happy that we're going to the final.
"I am very happy to help the team. I come back from injury so it was not easy. We have to fight every match for the colours of the club."
On Simone Inzaghi: "Amazing manager. Since I arrived he is doing very good for the team. Overall, it is great stuff. Now we go there to win."
On the final: "Two years ago we lost the final - we know everything is possible. This year we fight and we have objectives.
"Tomorrow we will see what team we have in the final."
FT: Inter Milan 4-3 Barcelona (7-6 agg)
Wayne Rooney
Former Man Utd striker on Amazon Prime
Once Inter got the equaliser it looked like they were the team that were going to push. Barcelona ran out of ideas at the end.
I'm not really quick to praise goalkeepers, but some of those saves Yann Sommer made were excellent.
FT: Inter Milan 4-3 Barcelona (7-6 agg)
Yann Sommer made 14 saves across the two semi-final legs.
Things could look very different for Inter without him.
Image source, Getty ImagesInter go through to finals in chaotic seven-goal semi-final
Inter Milan produced a dramatic late turnaround to beat Barcelona 7-6 on aggregate in a thrilling, all-time classic of a Champions League semi-final.
With just two minutes of added time left, Inter trailed 3-2 on the night and were heading out when centre-back Francesco Acerbi smashed a cross into the roof of the net to level the tie, the 37-year-old charging around with his shirt off in wild celebrations.
And there were more ecstatic scenes when substitute Davide Frattesi won it for the Italian champions, curling a beautiful left-footed shot into the bottom corner in the first period of extra time before climbing up a security fence to celebrate in front of Inter's fans.
It means a second Champions League final in three seasons for three-time European champions Inter after two legs of incredible drama which saw 13 goals and a tie turned on its head on several occasions.
Barca were only two minutes away from their first final in 10 years having fought back from 2-0 down - in a similar scenario to the first leg - to lead 3-2 on the night.
Lamine Yamal almost took the game to penalties but was twice denied by superb saves by Yann Sommer as Inter held on to reach the final and spark incredible scenes of celebration.
Inter, who lost 1-0 to Manchester City in the 2023 final, will play either Paris St-Germain or Arsenal at Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena on Saturday, 31 May in the 2025 showpiece.
The Gunners head into Wednesday's second leg in France after losing 1-0 at Emirates Stadium last week.
This semi-final will go down as one of the best in the tournament's history.
Just like in the first leg in Spain, Inter raced into a 2-0 lead, only to be pegged by Barcelona.
After Lautaro Martinez had put Inter ahead following good work from team-mate Denzel Dumfries, Hakan Calhanoglu converted a penalty at the end of the first half to leave Barcelona 5-3 behind on aggregate and in massive trouble.
But Hansi Flick's side dominated the second half.
Former Manchester City defender Eric Garcia volleyed one back for Barcelona before Dani Olmo's fine diving header in the 60th minute from Gerard Martin's cross made it 2-2 on the night and 5-5 on aggregate.
Raphinha grabbed what appeared to be an 87th-minute winner as Barca went ahead for the first time in the tie, when he converted a rebound after Sommer had saved his first strike.
Inter saved themselves, although Yamal had a chance to win the tie in the sixth minute of stoppage time only for Sommer to make a vital stop.
The hosts then retook the lead in extra time, but Barca still created chances, only for substitute Robert Lewandowski to head over and for 17-year-old Yamal to be denied by Sommer's superb one-handed save.
This tie was the joint-highest scoring semi-final tie in the Champions League history, matching the 13 goals scored when Liverpool defeated Roma 7-6 on aggregate in 2017-18.
Inter won the European Cup in 1964 and 1965 and clinched the Champions League in 2010, when Jose Mourinho guided them to a 2-0 win in the final against Bayern Munich.
No Italian side has won the competition since then with Juventus losing in the 2015 and 2017 finals, before Rodri scored the only goal for Manchester City against Inter in the final two years ago.
Simone Inzaghi was Inter's manager then and he has again plotted a route to the final, while also taking them in contention to win a second successive Italian Serie A title as they are second, three points behind leaders Napoli with three games to go.
Meanwhile, Barcelona have been European champions five times, but have not reached the final since their last success in 2015.
They still have a chance to grab their third domestic trophy this season as they hold a four-point lead at the top of La Liga over reigning champions Real Madrid.
Barca entertain Real in El Clasico on Sunday and a victory would go a long way to securing a 28th Spanish title - and only their second in the past six campaigns.
Flick's side have already won the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de Espana this season, beating Real in both finals.
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
Martinez slots Inter in front against Barcelona in semi-finals
Calhanoglu scores penalty for Inter against Barcelona
Garcia scores for Barcelona to cling onto Champions League final hopes
Dani Olmo heads in equaliser against against Inter
Raphina puts Barcelona in front to make late comeback in semi-finals
Acerbi scores late equaliser against Barcelona in semi-finals
Frattesi scores extra-time winner to put Inter through to final
Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.
There will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 5 | 12 | 21 |
| |
| 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 28 | 13 | 15 | 19 |
| |
| 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 3 | 13 | 19 |
| |
| 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 10 | 19 |
| |
| 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 18 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 16 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 16 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 16 |
| |
| 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 6 | 14 | 15 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 12 | 10 | 15 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 15 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 15 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 15 |
| |
14 PSV | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 14 |
|
| 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 13 |
| |
16 Benfica | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 13 |
|
| 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| |
18 Brest | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 11 | -1 | 13 |
|
19 Feyenoord | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 21 | -3 | 13 |
|
| 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 12 |
| |
| 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 14 | -1 | 12 |
| |
| 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 11 |
| |
23 Sporting CP | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 11 |
|
24 Club Brugge | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 11 |
|
25 Dinamo Zagreb | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 19 | -7 | 11 |
|
26 Stuttgart | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 17 | -4 | 10 |
|
27 Shakhtar Donetsk | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 16 | -8 | 7 |
|
28 Bologna | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 6 |
|
29 Red Star Belgrade | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 22 | -9 | 6 |
|
30 Sturm Graz | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 14 | -9 | 6 |
|
31 Sparta Prague | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 21 | -14 | 4 |
|
| 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 15 | -7 | 3 |
| |
33 Girona | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 13 | -8 | 3 |
|
34 Red Bull Salzburg | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 27 | -22 | 3 |
|
35 Slovan Bratislava | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 27 | -20 | 0 |
|
36 Young Boys | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 24 | -21 | 0 |
|
Manager: Simone Inzaghi
Formation: 3 - 5 - 2
Manager: Hans-Dieter Flick
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Simone Inzaghi
Formation: 3 - 5 - 2
Manager: Hans-Dieter Flick
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
UEFA Champions League
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This will be the 18th major European meeting between Internazionale and Barcelona, with only Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid (28), Juventus vs Real Madrid (21) and Inter vs Real Madrid (19) played more often in history. Each of the last two games between the teams have ended 3-3, in the UEFA Champions League in October 2022 and this season’s first leg.
Barcelona have won just one of their six away UEFA Champions League matches against Internazionale (D3 L2), a 2-1 win in December 2019. Overall, Barca have managed just five wins in 24 away games in Italy (21%), their lowest win ratio in any non-Spanish nation in the competition.
The first leg between Internazionale and Barcelona ended 3-3. Only three UEFA Champions League semi-finals have seen 10+ goals scored on aggregate: Juventus 6-4 Monaco (1997-98), Liverpool 7-6 Roma (2017-18) and Real Madrid 6-5 Man City (2021-22).
Internazionale are looking to reach their third UEFA Champions League final (also 2010 and 2023), while for Barcelona it would be their sixth final (1994, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015), drawing level with Bayern Munich, Milan and Juventus for finals reached and behind only Real Madrid (9).
Barcelona have scored 40 goals in this season’s UEFA Champions League, the most by a side in a season since Bayern Munich in 2019-20 (43). The only other teams to score more than 40 in a season are Barca themselves in 1999-00 (45), Real Madrid in 2013-14 (41) and Liverpool in 2017-18 (41).
Internazionale are unbeaten in their last 15 home UEFA Champions League matches (W12 D3), their best unbeaten home streak in major European competition since a run of 27 between 1980 and 1987. They’ve also won nine of their last 11 home semi-final matches in Europe (D1 L1).
Raphinha has had a hand in 20 goals in this season’s UEFA Champions League (12 goals, 8 assists), with only Cristiano Ronaldo in 2013-14 (17 goals, 4 assists) having more in one season. The only player to assist more goals in a campaign was Luís Figo, also for Barcelona, in 1999-00 (9).
After one goal in his first 39 UEFA Champions League appearances, Internazionale’s Denzel Dumfries scored twice in the first leg. Should either he or teammate Marcus Thuram score in this game, they’d be the first to score in both legs of a European Cup semi-final for Inter since Giacinto Facchetti in 1966-67.
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal has scored five UEFA Champions League goals this season, with only Erling Haaland (10 in 2019-20), Kylian Mbappe (6 in 2016-17) and Raúl (6 in 1995/96) scoring more in a season as a teenager. Yamal’s 44 shots, 19 shots on target and 78 dribbles are all the most Opta has on record since 2003-04 by a teenager in a season.
Pedri has completed 721 passes in this season’s UEFA Champions League, the most by a Spanish midfielder in a season for Barcelona since Sergio Busquets in 2018-19 (903). He’s also made 18 line-breaking passes leading to a shot, the most of any player still left in the competition.
