Inter Milan 4-3 Barcelona: The Nerazzurri progress to the final after Fratessi goal in extra time
After the dramatic 3-3 draw between Barcelona and Inter Milan in the first leg, the theme continued with a game of two halves at the San Siro. It was a performance to dignify the Champions League like no other, a showdown that rivalled any ever witnessed on this historic ground. The game at Montjuic in the previous week was a thrilling encounter, but this sequel was even better.
There was no wonder goal this time, no bicycle kick. But there was grit, blood and thunder. There were aging men resolute against the young, a late heartbreaking goal, a teenager peppering his opponents, as the clock ticked and the second hour passed.
Inter didn’t start particularly brilliantly, but they had the opener in the 21st minute. The Nerazzurri won the ball back high up in Barcelona’s half as they tried to play it out from the back, then Denzel Dumfries drew out goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and rolled to Lautaro Martinez to slot into the empty goal. And late in the half, the home side got their second. Martinez was fouled by Pau Cubarsi and just on the stroke of half-time, Hakan Calhanoglu converted the penalty to double Inter’s lead.
In the second period it was all Barcelona. Raphinha was nullified for most of the game but Lamine Yamal was unfazed and continued to torment the Inter defence. The Catalans soon got their reward when Gerard Martin whipped in a cross that flashed across the Inter goal and was met by Eric Garcia, who finished with a volley. Martin had a chance to equalise almost immediately afterwards, when Barcelona went on a counter attack with three against two. But the defender sent his attempt from point-blank range too close to Yann Sommer when he had the entire goal to aim at.
It didn’t matter much because Barcelona soon levelled on the hour mark with Dani Olmo’s header. Two-all and Barca were fired up. More chances would come, with Inter looking particularly jaded, their aged players not helping matters. Yamal was hauled down by Henrikh Mkhitaryan, but it was just an inch outside the box – no penalty. A shot from Yamal seemed headed for goal, but it took a deflection off a teammate and went just over the bar. Then another shot by the youngster towards the top corner, but he was denied by Sommer.
The momentum remained with Barcelona and soon their third arrived. Raphinha took a shot with his left foot, and after Sommer had saved, he fired the rebound with his right foot into the bottom right corner with only three minutes to go.
It looked like it was over, but up popped Francesco Acerbi, with Ronald Araujo marking him on the wrong side, and the defender finished past Szczesny with only a minute to go, in a manner worthy of coach Simone Inzaghi’s famous brother.
Extra time and the pendulum had swung again. Inter were back, drained but seemingly fuelled by the spirit of the San Siro. The excellent Marcus Thuram worked hard on the right and then carried the ball into the Barcelona box unchecked. After excellent team play, Davide Frattesi feinted and then curled a shot into the bottom left corner to put Inter ahead yet again.
Frustration and impatience crept into Barcelona’s game as the clock ticked away, and they began to send crosses well over their target, where only minutes ago everything had been measured. Inter stood. The San Siro roared, backing this blue-and-black-striped side as they worked hard and hard. All thought of skill was long gone. Only the fight remained.
A 17-year-old was the most formidable force against them. Yamal pushed and pushed. Sommer showed incredible elasticity to deny the teenager’s excellent curl toward the far post. Then another shot that struck the post. A dangerous in-swinger, but it was just cut out. The crowd roared louder in defiance. This was home. This was Inter. This was the San Siro. Opponents came and they lost. Barcelona did too.
