Barcelona, Spain was the scene of a sensational display of footballing talent on Wednesday as Barcelona and Inter Milan clashed in a thrilling 3-3 draw during the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal. The match presented a plethora of spectacular goals, with each side contributing remarkable strikes to the scoreline.
Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal took center stage with a stunning solo effort, executing a dazzling dribble before curling in a shot off the post. Meanwhile, Marcus Thuram wowed spectators with an intricate back-heeled flick, and Raphinha unleashed a thunderous strike that ricocheted off the bar and the goalkeeper before settling into the net. Adding to the spectacle, Denzel Dumfries impressed with a bicycle kick, followed by a commanding header to find the back of the net once more.
The entertaining exchange was noted by statistics provider Opta as matching the record for the highest-scoring draw in a Champions League semifinal since Bayern Munich and Dynamo Kiev played out a 3-3 draw in April 1999. Initially expected to be a showdown contrasting styles—Barcelona’s attacking prowess against Inter’s defensive solidity—the match instead turned into an exhilarating shootout.
Inter manager Simone Inzaghi, reflecting on the performance, remarked, “We saw a fantastic match and we knew that semifinals are difficult. We could even have won. Our fans know that we’ve been giving our utmost in difficult times, and we know that Tuesday will be a ‘final.’”
Despite being underdogs on the offensive side of the field, Inter managed to match Barcelona’s scoring through effective use of set-pieces. Thuram, returning after missing recent games due to injury, stunned the home side early in the match with a clever heel flick to convert a cross from Dumfries. Dumfries continued to contribute by extending Inter’s lead with a bicycle kick following a corner.
Yamal provided the spark that rekindled Barcelona’s hopes, showcasing his exceptional talent by evading two defenders and netting a beautiful goal. His impact was acknowledged by Barcelona coach Hansi Flick, stating, “Yamal is a fantastic player, in the big matches you can see his quality, and he showed it today. His goal to make it 2-1 was so important.”
Ferran Torres brought Barcelona level before halftime with a powerful header from a pass by Raphinha. Inter was dealt a setback when Lautaro Martínez had to leave the pitch due to injury, but Dumfries restored their lead with another precise header from a corner kick.
Within minutes, however, Raphinha equalized for Barcelona with an emphatic shot from outside the penalty area, reemphasizing the attacking threat of the Catalan club. “Playing at home, we had the obligation to win,” Raphinha said post-match, “But the result is not that bad and we will prepare for the second game so we come out on top.”
Barcelona seeks to return to the Champions League final for the first time since 2015, aiming to replicate their treble-winning success from the previous decade under new coach Flick. Inter, on the other hand, looks forward to making a second final appearance in three years, having last won the tournament in 2010 through victory against Barcelona at the very same stage.
The second-leg promises to be just as enthralling, with the winner secured a place in the final against either Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal in Munich on May 31, after PSG managed a narrow 1-0 victory over Arsenal in London earlier this week.