Inter eliminate Barcelona after extra time in epic Champions League semifinal with 4-3 comeback win

Inter tied the match at 3-3 with a last second goal and scored in extra time to take the tie 7-6 on aggregate

Inter advanced to their second UEFA Champions League final in three years on Tuesday, surviving their epic semifinal tie against Barcelona with a 7-6 win on aggregate after extra time.

The winner came courtesy of substitute Davide Frattesi, who scored in the 99th minute with a powerful strike from inside the box. Barcelona attempted to mount a comeback but goalkeeper Yann Sommer was responsible for several saves in the final stages of the game, performing his own heroics to close out the game. Inter ended up winning the game 4-3, much of the drama coming during the first 90 minutes on Tuesday.

Simone inzaghi's side took a 2-0 lead before halftime, with Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Calhanoglou scoring before the break. Barcelona mounted a quick comeback in the second half with Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo scoring to level the score at 2-2 by the 60th minute. Barcelona took the lead for the first time in this tie in the 87th minute when Raphinha scored but Francesco Acerbi's stoppage time goal ensured Inter would play at least another 30 minutes in the Champions League this season.

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Tuesday's 3-3 draw comes after the first leg in Barcelona ended 3-3, equalling the record for the highest-scoring semifinal tie in the history of the competition. Inter will await the winner of Paris Saint-Germain's tie with Arsenal on Wednesday in the final, which will take place on May 31 at Munich's Allianz Arena.

[May 6, 2025 at 5:40 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

FT: Inter 4, Barcelona 3

Aggregate score: Inter 7, Barcelona 6

After 210 minutes and 13 goals, it's Inter who come out on top and are off to their second Champions League final in three years. There were many heroes of Inter's epic triumph over Barcelona, from Thuram and Martinez at earlier stages of the tie to Acerbi and Frattesi to mount the comeback, while Sommer did all he could to ensure they would go through. It is a profound accomplishment for Inter, who have been an on up and down journey over the last few weeks with hiccups in the Coppa Italia and Serie A, but this is an incredible way to get their season back on track.

As for Barcelona, their treble hopes have now officially been dashed. Scoring six goals is nothing to scoff at but Barcelona's porous back line finally cost them, denying them a chance to win their first Champions League title in 10 years. This season will not end trophyless -- they already claimed the Copa del Rey -- but an important edition of El Clasico on Sunday could either make or break their hopes of winning La Liga.

[May 6, 2025 at 5:34 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Sommer up for the task again

117' Yamal is up to nine shots today, four on target, a statistical story that is just as much about the 17-year-old as it is about Sommer. The goalkeeper comes up with another big save and even though the ball is recycled back into play, Lewandowski can't get the ball on frame.

[May 6, 2025 at 5:32 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Sommer's save on Yamal's shot

115' Raphinha connects with Yamal and he takes a shot from distance that looks threatening, but Sommer gets a little touch that goes a long way. Sommer also stifles the play on the subsequent corner, really emerging as the key player for Inter as they look to close this game out. Five minutes plus stoppage time to go in this one...

[May 6, 2025 at 5:27 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Frattesi nearly scores again

110' Now at the other end, Thuram makes a big play and it's Frattesi again who's right in front of goal and hopes to send the ball into the back of the net. Szczesny comes up with the save, though, and sends the ball out for a corner that Barcelona handle with relative ease. These players might be tired, but the intensity hasn't dipped much in this game.

[May 6, 2025 at 5:25 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Lewandowski nearly scores

108' Yamal plays a stunning rainbow pass from the endline towards the far post, where Lewandowski is waiting. The Poland international then rises to go for the header and may have been able to get a touch on it, but Sommer's save with his fingertips means Lewandowski can't get to it.

[May 6, 2025 at 5:24 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Gavi goes for goal

106' The second half of extra time is officially underway and Barcelona are not trying to waste any time, since just 15 minutes are left on the clock to save their Champions League campaign -- and their treble quest. Gavi's off to the races to start this half and could have created some trouble for Inter but Darmian comes in with some last-ditch defending to keep Barcelona at bay.

[May 6, 2025 at 5:19 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Yamal, Lewandowski connect

105'+2 Barcelona are in the midst of their latest quest to equalize, this time with Yamal playing a nice pass to Lewandowski. The Poland international can't get the right touch on it and so the shot ultimately does not cause Inter too much trouble, but it was not a bad idea.

[May 6, 2025 at 5:10 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

GOAL! Inter 4, Barcelona 3

Aggregate score: Inter 7, Barcelona 6

99' Inter are back in front! This one starts with Thuram's strong hold up play and ends with Frattesi coming up with an impressive goal to give his side the lead yet again. Another major development in this tie but Barcelona have generally been up to the task -- they have another 20 minutes to prove that's still the case. Either way, though, this is now tied for the highest-scoring Champions League semifinal tie ever, matching the 2018 semifinal between Liverpool and Roma that ended 7-6 in the Reds' favor.

[May 6, 2025 at 5:04 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Extra time underway

Each team has an additional substitution to use but neither manager has used it just yet. Something to keep in mind -- Martinez and Dimarco have come off for Inter, while Barcelona only just introduced Lewandowski right before extra time began. Time will tell if that makes a difference.

[May 6, 2025 at 4:57 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Extra time it is!

The most entertaining Champions League semifinal tie has remained just that and 12 goals later, we are off to extra time.

[May 6, 2025 at 4:54 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

GOAL! Inter 3, Barcelona 3

Aggregate score: Inter 6, Barcelona 6

90'+3 Inter mount the comeback! Inter go quickly towards goal and after spending the last few minutes pushing for the equalizer, Acerbi scores his first goal of the season. Inter were 90 seconds away from elimination and now they look certain to send this game to extra time.

[May 6, 2025 at 4:52 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Lewandowski comes on

90'+1 We may have been waiting to see Lewandowski since halftime but the Poland international finally makes his way onto the pitch with five minutes of stoppage time on the clock, Torres coming off in his place. Time to see if Barcelona can hang onto their slim lead -- Inter are going for goal but the finish line, and a spot in the Champions League final, feels within reach.

[May 6, 2025 at 4:48 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

GOAL! Inter 2, Barcelona 3

Aggregate score: Inter 5, Barcelona 6

87' For the first time in this tie, Barcelona have the lead! Pedri wins the ball in the middle of the park and he sends Barcelona to the races in a play that ends with Raphinha taking a shot from an angle. Sommer comes up with a brilliant save but he sends the ball back into play and Raphinha makes sure his second chance counts. The Brazil international has not been the most active player today but he comes up with a big moment, and at just the right time.

[May 6, 2025 at 4:41 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Inter are out of subs

80' Inzaghi makes two substitutes for the final 10 minutes of regular time, taking off Calhanoglou and Mkhitaryan for Zielinski and Frattesi. He's now used all of his substitutions for regular time -- each team will get another for extra time, should they make it there, but if they do, Inter will also be without Martinez and Dimarco after they were subbed off earlier.

[May 6, 2025 at 4:39 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Yamal with a shot from distance

77' Yamal comes up with another highlight reel worthy moment, this time taking a beautiful curling shot from distance. He needs to force Sommer into an equally impressive save but it almost looked certain to be a goal.

[May 6, 2025 at 4:31 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

De Jong blocks Raphinha's shot

71' Barcelona go short with the freekick with the hopes of getting a meaningful shot on goal, and quickly it's Raphinha who sends the ball towards goal from the edge of the area. De Jong, though, accidentally blocks the shot and sends it over the bar for a goal kick.

[May 6, 2025 at 4:30 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

No penalty to Barcelona!

68' Barcelona have kept the pressure on Inter's back line since the second goal and now Mkhitaryan commits a foul on Yamal but the question is -- is it inside or outside the box? The refereeing team takes a look and rules that the foul was juuuust outside the box. Freekick for Barcelona on the edge of the area it is.

[May 6, 2025 at 4:20 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

GOAL! Inter 2, Barcelona 2

Aggregate score: Inter 5, Barcelona 5

60' And Barcelona have their equalizer. Martin sets up the goal yet again and it's Olmo, who sheds the baggage of his first half indecision and ensures his powerful strike of the ball results in a goal. The next 30 minutes (plus extra time, perhaps?) should be fun.

[May 6, 2025 at 4:18 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Garcia nearly scores a second

57' Barcelona win the ball back in their half and go quickly on the other end, with Yamal really building the play. The ball -- somehow -- lands to Garcia again and he looks certain to score but Sommer comes up with a save that's just as impressive as the shot.

[May 6, 2025 at 4:14 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

GOAL! Inter 2, Barcelona 1

Aggregate score: Inter 5, Barcelona 4

55' And Barcelona finally pull one back! The visitors are in the box and Martin's the one with the pass towards the goalkeeper's left, a few of his teammates waiting over there. The ball eventually lands Garcia's way, and the defender offers up a surprisingly stellar finish to bring the deficit down to one goal with a little more than half an hour to play. Game on.

[May 6, 2025 at 4:11 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Yamal makes his way towards goal

50' Barcelona resume their search for goals to start the second half, getting close as Yamal makes a run towards goal. Bastoni has Yamal's shirt in his hand and chunkily brings him to the ground and though the Barcelona teen wants a penalty, the sequence probably didn't truly warrant one and so play resumes.

[May 6, 2025 at 3:52 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

HT: Inter 2, Barcelona 0

Aggregate score: Inter 5, Barcelona 3

That was an expertly crafted first half approach from Inter, who took advantage of Barcelona's high line and have two goals to show for it. Martinez made his surprise start count by scoring the game's first goal and winning the penalty that allows them to boast a two goal aggregate advantage at halftime of the second leg. We are now on comeback watch for Barcelona, who definitely have a two goal performance in them and had opportunities of their own in the first half. They definitely lacked precision in the first 45, though, posting just one of their six shots on target. It makes you wonder if Lewandowski's number will be on the substitution board sooner rather than later, and if the indecisive Olmo's night might be over.

[May 6, 2025 at 3:46 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

GOAL! Inter 2, Barcelona 0

Aggregate score: Inter 5, Barcelona 3

45' Cubarsi's foul on Martinez was not clean at all, as it turns out, and so the referee has no choice but to award Inter a penalty. Calhanoglou comes up with a clean finish of his own, slotting the ball simply into the bottom left hand corner to give his side a sizable advantage in this second leg. Things get heated, though, with Barcelona claiming there may have been something wrong with the penalty but it was not enough to trouble the refereeing team. Play has resumed.

[May 6, 2025 at 3:44 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Penalty to Inter!

42' Inter are carving out opportunities despite Barcelona's possession, winning the ball closer and closer to goal and creating some dangerous chances. Calhanoglou takes a quick hit inside the box and may have put the ball on target if he gets a clean touch, but he doesn't. Moments later, Martinez is darting into the box and he's basically in on goal but Cubarsi gets a clean tackle inside the box ... or is it? The referee is off to the monitor while Martinez receives treatment for an injury and he awards the hosts a penalty!

[May 6, 2025 at 3:39 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Mkhitaryan with the volley

38' Inter are back near Barcelona's goal for the first time in a little while and almost make that little venture to the other end of the pitch count. The two teams are playing a little bit of pinball on the edge of the penalty area before the ball lands to Mkhitaryan, who decides to hit it on the volley and though he can't get the shot on frame, it wasn't terribly far off, either.

[May 6, 2025 at 3:36 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Another close call for Inter

31' The momentum has fully been with Barcelona since Inter scored, the latest attempt coming courtesy of a stellar ball into the box from Garcia. Raphinha's in a perfect spot to capitalize near the far post but he has a body on him and can't really get a great touch on the ball, plus he may have been in an offside position. Barcelona now have four shots since Martinez's goal, adding up to 0.48 expected goals.

[May 6, 2025 at 3:30 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Olmo goes for goal again

28' Olmo finds himself in front of goal again as Barcelona look for the equalizer, earning a corner along the way. There's an argument to be made that Olmo could have done better with his chance from close range, though; he hesitates to make a decision and gives Acerbi the perfect little opening to steer the ball out of danger. The last few minutes have not been great for Olmo and it's worth wondering if this will be a habit today.

[May 6, 2025 at 3:28 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

No penalty for Barcelona

25' Much like they were in the first leg, Barcelona are now playing catch-up and get pretty close with a sequence that ends with Olmo taking a shot from close range. Acerbi manages to block him but Pedri insists there's a handball on the play, and a replay reveals that Acerbi may have gotten a touch but he was falling down and the ball came his way as that was happening. The referee summons for play to resume but in case it was not clear to Pedri, he also makes a gesture with his arms that indicates that there's no penalty to be awarded.

[May 6, 2025 at 3:22 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

GOAL! Inter 1, Barcelona 0

Aggregate score: Inter 4, Barcelona 3

21' The momentum has favored Inter in the last few minutes and the hosts are on the board thanks to Martinez! Dimarco wins the ball in Inter's half and kicks off the play, later sending the ball to Dumfries before the Dutchman sets it up for Martinez. From there, the Argentine has an easy finish from inside the penalty area. It's his ninth Champions League goal of the season, putting him inside the top five goalscorers this season.

[May 6, 2025 at 3:22 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Inter try to recreate set piece magic

20' Inter earn one corner after another after another in the span of a few minutes, hoping to recreate the success of last week's game when Dumfries scored twice from set pieces. They go a few different ways -- sometimes an old school corner, other times they go short -- but they can't pull it off this time. Mishits, blocked shots and even Calhanoglou's shot from distance on a short corner mean the game is still goalless.