Inter Milan stunned Barcelona in one of the most chaotic, breathless semi-finals the Champions League has ever seen, winning 4-3 on the night and 7-6 on aggregate to seal their return to the final for the first time since 2010.
San Siro turned into a cauldron as Inter flew out of the blocks. Lautaro Martínez struck first with a composed finish in the 21st minute, punishing Barcelona’s slack marking inside the box. The Italians sensed vulnerability and doubled their lead just before the break when Çalhanoğlu buried a penalty after Araújo clipped Dimarco inside the area.
Two goals up, Inter looked in control, but Barcelona refused to die quietly. Eric García dragged one back early in the second half with a poacher’s finish, reigniting hope. Dani Olmo brought the tie level again with a well-taken strike from the edge of the box in the 60th minute. The visitors now had the momentum, and when Raphinha curled in a stunner with two minutes of normal time remaining, Barcelona appeared to have turned the tie around completely.
But Francesco Acerbi had other ideas. The veteran defender—without a single Champions League goal to his name—rose highest in stoppage time to head home from a corner, sending San Siro into a frenzy and dragging the tie into extra time.
Inter refused to let the moment slip. Marcus Thuram battled down the right and laid the ball off to Frattesi, who swept it past ter Stegen in the 99th minute to complete the turnaround. From there, it was survival mode. Barcelona poured forward, with Lewandowski going close and Lamine Yamal denied by Yann Sommer in the dying seconds, but Inter held firm.
This tie will be remembered as one of the most dramatic in Champions League history—13 goals, two comebacks, and a finale that defied belief. Barcelona showed heart but lacked composure when it mattered most. Inter, in contrast, dug deep, absorbed the blows, and found their killer instinct when it counted.
With Arsenal and PSG set to clash in the other semi-final, Inter will travel to Munich with momentum, belief, and a squad that knows how to suffer and survive. Few expected them to reach this stage. After this, no one will underestimate them again.