Inter outlasts Barcelona in epic seven-goal thriller

UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg between Inter and Barcelona at Giuseppe Meazza proved to be an instant classic that transcended tactics and sanity. In a match that featured numerous twists and turns, Inter ultimately prevailed with a 4-3 victory in the second leg, securing passage to the final with a thrilling 7-6 aggregate scoreline after the first leg ended 3-3 in Barcelona. Inter established an early dominance, taking a two-goal lead through Lautaro Martínez and a penalty from Hakan Çalhanoğlu.

Çalhanoğlu, Turkey's captain and a key player for Inter, converted from the spot to give his side a commanding advantage. However, Barcelona, showcasing their fearless and flamboyant style, stunningly drew themselves level with goals from Eric García and Dani Olmo, bringing the score back to 2-2. The match featured crucial saves from Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer throughout.

The drama intensified in the latter stages. Raphinha put Barcelona ahead in the 87th minute, seemingly giving them the advantage. But Inter responded in the 93rd minute through Francesco Acerbi, whose goal leveled the scores once again and pushed the tie into added time. The decisive moment arrived in the 99th minute when Davide Frattesi, reportedly injured heading into the game, found the composure to score the winning goal for Inter, sending the Giuseppe Meazza crowd into a frenzy.

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For Simone Inzaghi's Inter side, who were beaten finalists two years ago, this represents a stirring journey of resolve and belief. Despite their defense, which had been so strong earlier in the competition, conceding six goals across the two legs, they withstood terrifying Barcelona pressure to survive. Barcelona, described as a beautiful doomed experiment, ultimately fell short. Hansi Flick's side, despite their attacking threats from players like Lamine Yamal and full-backs like García and Gerard Martín, were too often left exposed defensively.

Although they led for only five minutes in the entire aggregate tie, Barcelona pushed Inter until the last kick. While there were tears at the end for Barcelona, who will surely return a little wiser, the semi-final itself was hailed as a miracle, a match played on the "very edge of everything" where both sets of players were pushed to their limits, yet somehow felt more alive.