Inter Milan vs Barcelona: Champions League Semifinal Analysis
Date: May 6, 2025
Venue: San Siro, Milan
Final Score: Inter Milan 4–3 Barcelona (7–6 on aggregate)
Match Summary
In a thrilling UEFA Champions League semifinal, Inter Milan edged out Barcelona with a 4–3 victory in extra time, securing a 7–6 aggregate win. The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with both teams showcasing resilience and attacking prowess.
Match Events
- 123′ Second Half Extra Time ends, Inter Milan 4, Barcelona 3.
- 122′ Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona).
- 121′ Foul by Ronald Araujo (Barcelona). Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 119′ Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Yann Sommer.
- 118′ Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 117′ Davide Frattesi (Inter Milan) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Raphinha (Barcelona).
- 116′ Attempt missed. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
- 114′ Attempt saved. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
- 112′ Delay in match (Barcelona).
- 109′ Corner, Inter Milan. Conceded by Wojciech Szczesny. Attempt saved by Davide Frattesi (Inter Milan).
- 108′ Substitution: Stefan de Vrij (In) for Denzel Dumfries (Out) – Inter Milan
- 106′ Second Half Extra Time begins, Inter Milan 4, Barcelona 3.
- 106′ Substitution: Pau Víctor (In) for Pedri (Out) – Barcelona
- 106′ Substitution: Gavi (In) for Pau Cubarsí (Out) – Barcelona
- 99′ Goal! Inter Milan 4, Barcelona 3. Davide Frattesi (Inter Milan) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mehdi Taremi.
- 98′ Substitution: Hector Fort (In) for Eric García (Out) – Barcelona
- 95′ Yellow card Carlos Augusto (Inter Milan) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 92′ Yellow card Francesco Acerbi (Inter Milan) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.
- 93′ Goal! Inter Milan 3, Barcelona 3. Francesco Acerbi (Inter Milan) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Denzel Dumfries with a cross.
- 87′ Goal! Inter Milan 2, Barcelona 3. Raphinha (Barcelona) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner.
- 79′ Substitution: Piotr Zieliński (In) for Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Out) – Inter Milan
- 79′ Substitution: Davide Frattesi (In) for Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Out) – Inter Milan
- 60′ Goal! Inter Milan 2, Barcelona 2. Dani Olmo (Barcelona) header from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Gerard Martín following a set piece situation.
- 54′ Goal! Inter Milan 2, Barcelona 1. Eric García (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Gerard Martín with a cross.
- 46′ Goal! Inter Milan 2, Barcelona 0. Hakan Çalhanoglu (Inter Milan) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Tactical Analysis
Inter Milan’s tactical discipline was evident throughout the match. Their counterattacking strategy, led by the dynamic wing play of Denzel Dumfries, was effective in exploiting Barcelona’s high defensive line. Defensively, Inter remained compact, with Francesco Acerbi and Lautaro Martínez providing leadership and crucial interventions.
Barcelona, under Hansi Flick, displayed attacking intent but struggled defensively. The absence of key defenders like Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde was felt, and lapses in concentration led to conceding vital goals. However, the performances of young talents like Lamine Yamal and Pedri were standout positives for the Catalan side.
Player Ratings
| Player | Team | Rating | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yann Sommer | Inter Milan | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Francesco Acerbi | Inter Milan | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Lautaro Martínez | Inter Milan | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| Davide Frattesi | Inter Milan | 7.5 | 1 | 0 |
| Raphinha | Barcelona | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Lamine Yamal | Barcelona | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| Pedri | Barcelona | 7 | 0 | 1 |
Match Lineups
Inter Milan (3-5-2)
| Player | Position |
|---|---|
| Y. Sommer | Goalkeeper |
| Y. Bisseck | Defender |
| F. Acerbi | Defender |
| A. Bastoni | Defender |
| D. Dumfries | Midfielder |
| N. Barella | Midfielder |
| H. Çalhanoğlu | Midfielder |
| H. Mkhitaryan | Midfielder |
| F. Dimarco | Midfielder |
| L. Martínez (C) | Forward |
| M. Thuram | Forward |
Manager: Simone Inzaghi
Barcelona (4-2-3-1)
| Player | Position |
|---|---|
| W. Szczęsny | Goalkeeper |
| E. García | Defender |
| P. Cubarsí | Defender |
| I. Martínez | Defender |
| G. Martín | Defender |
| F. de Jong (C) | Midfielder |
| Pedri | Midfielder |
| L. Yamal | Midfielder |
| D. Olmo | Midfielder |
| Raphinha | Forward |
| F. Torres | Forward |
Manager: Hans-Dieter Flick
Substitutions
| Player | Time | Out |
|---|---|---|
| Carlos Augusto | 55′ | F. Dimarco |
| Matteo Darmian | 71′ | Y. Bisseck |
| Mehdi Taremi | 71′ | L. Martínez |
| Piotr Zieliński | 79′ | H. Çalhanoğlu |
| Davide Frattesi | 79′ | H. Mkhitaryan |
| Stefan de Vrij | 108′ | D. Dumfries |
| Ronald Araújo | 76′ | I. Martínez |
| Fermín López | 83′ | D. Olmo |
| Robert Lewandowski | 90′ | F. Torres |
| Hector Fort | 98′ | E. García |
| Gavi | 106′ | P. Cubarsí |
| Pau Víctor | 106′ | Pedri |
Conclusion
The semifinal between Inter Milan and Barcelona will be remembered as one of the most thrilling encounters in Champions League history. Inter’s resilience and tactical discipline secured their place in the final, while Barcelona’s youthful energy and attacking flair showcased their potential for the future. Both teams demonstrated the passion and drama that make the Champions League the pinnacle of club football.