Inter Milan sealed their spot in the Champions League final after a dramatic 4-3 victory over Barcelona in a thrilling semifinal, with Davide Frattesi scoring an extra-time winner. The match finished with a 7-6 aggregate victory for the Italian side, who will now face either Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal in the final later this month.
The match was an emotional rollercoaster, with Inter dominating the first half. Lautaro Martinez put them ahead with a counter-attack goal in the 21st minute, and Hakan Calhanoglu doubled the lead with a penalty just before the break. However, Barcelona came alive in the second half, with Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo both scoring within six minutes to level the game.
Despite Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer’s efforts to keep his team in the game, Barcelona thought they had secured the win when Raphinha scored from close range in the 87th minute. But with time running out, Denzel Dumfries found Francesco Acerbi in the box. The 37-year-old, playing in his 20th season, scored his first European goal with a first-time shot to equalize and send the match into extra time.
In the 99th minute, Marcus Thuram set up Frattesi, who curled in a shot into the bottom corner to put Inter in the lead. Sommer then made two crucial saves to deny Barcelona’s teenager Lamine Yamal, ensuring the victory for Inter, who are now on their way to their fourth Champions League title and their first in 15 years.
“I’m lucky to have finished the game,” Frattesi said. “I screamed so much that I saw everything black. It’s incredible, I don’t know what to say. Tonight, the incredible happened.”
Barcelona, who had hoped to complete a treble after winning the Copa del Rey by defeating Real Madrid, will now shift their focus to La Liga. They host Real Madrid on Sunday, with a four-point lead over their rivals.
“Football has been very cruel to us,” said Barcelona’s Eric Garcia. “We showed remarkable character, and we still have the league to play for.”
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