Inter 4-3 Barcelona (agg 7-6): Frattesi's goal in extra time sent hosts to final

Davide Frattesi netted in extra time to take Inter to the Champions League final, after a 4-3 second-leg win over Barcelona at San Siro, and a 7-6 semi-final victory on aggregate.

Match Report

Just as they did in the first leg last week, Inter took the lead. Dani Olmo was dispossessed in midfield, and after being slipped in down the right, Denzel Dumfries squared it to the returning Lautaro Martinez, who coolly turned it into the net first-time in the 21st minute.

An out-of-sorts Barca struggled to offer a threat in the first half, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Hakan Calhanoglu both sent brilliant first-time efforts wide of the posts.

Inter got their second on the stroke of half-time after Pau Cubarsi slid in on Martinez inside the box. What initially looked like a well-timed tackle was reviewed by VAR, and seeing the Inter captain got to the ball first, the referee pointed to the spot. Calhanoglu confidently fired into the bottom-left corner, sending Wojciech Szczesny the wrong way.

Inter looked even more comfortable when, seven minutes after the break, Francesco Acerbi stooped to head Calhanoglu's free-kick past Szczesny, but the goal was chalked off for offside.

Just two minutes later, Barcelona pulled one back. Gerard Martin's first cross from the left was blocked, but after recycling it, he picked out Eric Garcia, who put his laces through a first-time shot, rifling it across goal into the top-left corner.

Garcia was denied a second by Sommer's pouncing save just moments after Szczesny kept out Nicolo Barella's tight-angled effort at the other end before Barcelona pulled level on the hour.

Martin was again given space on the left, and he bent a deep cross into the far post, where Olmo was unmarked to thump a powerful header past Sommer.

Sommer kept out Lamine Yamal's curler at the top corner with a stunning save, and then parried a Raphinha strike, only for the Brazilian to fire the rebound into the bottom-right corner with three minutes remaining to give Barca the lead for the first time in the tie.

Yamal then struck the foot of Sommer's left post, a miss that Inter punished just moments later. The hosts countered quickly, and Dumfries' low cross was fired into the roof of the net by Acerbi in the 93rd minute to ensure they would play another 30 minutes.

After looking down and out for most of the second half, Inter were reinvigorated in extra time. Frattesi found a pocket of space in the 99th minute, bending a low shot past Szczesny, who remained rooted to the spot.

Barcelona pushed for another equaliser, with Yamal, the star of the semi-final tie, almost catching Sommer out twice more, but the goalkeeper first made a fingertip save before parrying his powerful strike away in the closing stages.

Data Debrief: Inter dig deep

This match is now the joint-highest scoring semi-final in Champions League history, along with Liverpool 7-6 Roma in 2017-18, and it is one that Inter fans will not soon forget.

Martinez has now scored eight goals across his last seven appearances in the competition. He also scored as many goals in the first half as he completed passes (both one).

Calhanoglu, meanwhile, continued his perfect record from the spot. He has scored all six of his Champions League penalties, the joint-best 100% success rate in the competition's history (with Timo Werner also having netted all six of his spot-kicks).

With what he thought was surely the winner, Raphinha equalled Cristiano Ronaldo's 2013-14 record of 21 goal involvements in a single Champions League campaign (13 goals, eight assists).

Only Barcelona themselves (45 in 1999-00) have scored more goals in a Champions League season than Barcelona this season (43), but Hansi Flick's side have also conceded 24 goals, their most in a single campaign, which ultimately proved their downfall.

Inter are through to their second Champions League final in three seasons. Since Simone Inzaghi's arrival in 2021, they are one of only two teams, along with Real Madrid, to reach the showpiece more than once.

FORGET the final, give Inter Milan the Champions League – nothing will top this.

Neither Arsenal nor Paris Saint-Germain will want to face Simone Inzaghi’s monsters, anyway.

They triumphed over Barcelona in the greatest of semi-finals and in the most dramatic of fashion.

These two served up an instant classic a week ago, and went all out to top it at the San Siro.

Inter were cruising after another flying start, floored after Barcelona came back from the dead again.

Somehow they had more left and, for all of Barcelona’s comebacks across this unforgettable tie, it was the

Nerazzurri who produced one when it counted, sealed by Davide Frattesi in extra time.

The Inter sub showed a composure few could believe amid the mania of this match – finishing off a move which was made by Marcus Thuram’s brilliance.

Thuram refused to give up down the right, beat two Barca defenders and laid off for Mehdi Taremi, who teed up Frattesi to, finally, kill off this most stubborn opponent.

Barcelona had come from behind three times in this tie.

Raphinha thought he had won it in the 87th minute, putting them ahead for the first time.

But no one counted on a 37-year-old Francesco Acerbi getting his first Champions League goal, in the 93rd minute, to give everyone what we wanted – more.

Barca’s would-be match winner collapsed to his knees and this proved one comeback too far for Hansi Flick’s men.

Their wait for a Champions League final goes on past a decade now, Inter have reached their second in three years.

The exuberant home fans earlier welcomed their team bus with a frenzy of fireworks and flares.

Inzaghi’s men had surprised everyone with their attacking intent and effectiveness in an enthralling first leg.

An expectant San Siro wanted more of the same and were not disappointed.

It was the same plan as a week ago – trying to punish the visitors’ nauseatingly high line – and it bore more fruit.

Inter looked primed to race into another early lead, and did just that.

Denzel Dumfries, who scored a brace last week, was sent one-on-one by Federico Dimarco but despite his devastating work six days ago, the Dutchman selflessly squared for his skipper.

Lautaro Martinez, passed fit to start after being a major doubt, capitalised on the empty net and raced away to celebrate with a surging sea of black and blue – none of them knowing what they were about to be put through.

Inter, famed for defending a tight lead, would not sit back. Dumfries still barrelled forwards and the two strikers proved a nuisance.

Barca looked in desperate need of some experience. They had lost Jules Kounde and Pau Cubarsi, 18, was struggling.

Hakan Calhanoglu flashed an effort wide but would soon get a much better one thanks to the teenager.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan slipped one of many dangerous ball through for Martinez to race after, Cubarsi was caught out and restricted to a late lunge.

Referee Szymon Marciniak, waved the shouts away and the San Siro erupted, a din of whistles as their captain writhed on the deck.

Eventually, Marciniak was sent to the monitor and corrected the decision, allowing Calhanoglu to step up and – for the second time in this tie – put his side two clear of Barca.

Inter had dumped Barca in an almighty hole, again. The young visitors looked lost in the pit of this famous old stadium.

For a while even the older players looked as bamboozled as the kids.

But Barcelona players, young and old, have a muscle memory for comebacks, not just that famous “Remontada” against Paris Saint-Germain eight years ago.

It was brilliance which got them going in the first leg, this was more traditional – but nonetheless incredibly impressive.

Eric Garcia, the former Manchester City man, thumped home to convert Gerard Martin’s cross less than 10 minutes after the restart.

Inter’s breaks had been limited, Barcelona looked themselves again with Pedri composed and conducting things.

It was Martin again who made the second, lifting an exquisite ball over the Inter defence from deep, placed perfectly for Olmo to run onto and head Barca level, from two down – again.

The hosts looked like Barcelona’s latest recovery act had finally knocked it out of them. Inter were struggling and Inzaghi rattled through five changes in a bid to revive them.

But they looked to have failed.

Pedri spotted Raphinha in space on the left, picking out the ex-Leeds winger.

His first shot was fired at Yann Sommer, but the Swiss sent is straight back and Raphinha did not waste his second helping.

The home fans were silent, they had given up. But their players had not. Dumfries – again – kept going and crossed for Acerbi, who converted first time to take this tie beyond the realms of ridiculous and crush Barca.

There is talk of tearing San Siro down. Those celebrations almost did the job anyway.

Inter, unfancied, had matched Barca blow for blow and taken them to the end.

Flick’s tikes refused to fold even after Frattesi’s winner, Yamal twice stopped by Sommer, but this was finally too much to come back from.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

1' Torres's shot is deflected away from goal, meanwhile the offside flag is raised!

5' Raphinha whips a low ball into the box from the left, but hosts tidy up easily!

9' Dumfries inside Barca's box but he takes too long & eventually dispossessed!

13' Lautaro pass allows Thuram to break through, Szczesny stops it & it's offside!

15' Yamal shoots with his left from the D, but Sommer easily saves it!

21' GOAL! Lautaro Martínez tucks the ball into an empty net! Inter 1-0 Barcelona

21' Barella tests Szczesny with a fierce volley from a tight angle!

28' Dani Olmo looks to prod ball home from close range, but can only stab it wide!

36' Yamal going away from goal and cannot set himself before poking wide of target!

38' Mkhitaryan unleashes a volley that drifts agonisingly wide of the far post!

41' Calhanoglu swings at the ball with his left foot, but scuffs his shot wide!

46' GOAL! Çalhanoğlu fools keeper & strikes it into the corner! Inter 2-0 Barcelona

51' Yellow Card! I. Martinez booked for bringing down Thuram!

51' Acerbi glances the ball home - albeit having strayed offside!

54' GOAL! Eric Garcia arrives and neatly cushions a volley! Inter 2-1 Barcelona

55' Dimarco's work is done, as Carlos Augusto replaces him to keep an eye on Yamal!

57' Gerard Martin sets up Eric Garcia, but Sommer denies his shot!

60' GOAL! Olmo makes a comeback & it's all square now! Inter 2-2 Barcelona (agg 5-5)

70' Yamal's shot is on target, but De Jong unwittingly diverts it away from goal!

71' Lautaro subbed for Taremi with 20 minutes left as Darmian replaced Bisseck!

76' Inigo Martinez subbed off for Araujo, who takes the armband!

77' Yamal's strike is heading for the top corner, but Sommer pushes it away!

88' WHAT A TURNAROUND! Raphinha nestles in the bottom corner! Inter 2-3 Barcelona

93' GOAL! Nerazzurri equalise in the nick of time by Acerbi! Inter 3-3 Barcelona

99' GOAL! Frattesi guides it into the bottom corner! Inter 4-3 Barcelona (agg 7-6)

Line-ups

Inter XI: Sommer, Mkhitaryan, Acerbi, Calhanoglu, Dimarco, Barella, Thuram, Dumfries, Lautaro, Bastoni, Yann Bisseck

Subs: Darmian, Arnautovic, De Vrij, Zielinski, M. Taremi, Di Gennaro, Frattesi, Josep Martínez, Carlos Augusto, Nicola Zalewski, Asllani, Gabriele Re Cecconi

Barcelona XI: Szczesny, I. Martinez, Olmo, De Jong, Ferran Torres, Raphinha, Eric Garcia, Pedri, Yamal, Gerard Martín, Cubarsi

Subs: Lewandowski, Christensen, Pena, Araujo, Fati, Pau Víctor, Gavi, Fermín López, Astralaga, Héctor Fort, Noah Darvich, Landry Farré