Inter-Barcelona, epic 4-3: the Nerazzurri return to the Champions League final

Inter returned to the Champions League final and did it with a feat, beating Barcelona with a 4-3 scoreline that evokes the epos of Italian football. The feat and the way it came about, with the result reversals recalling the match of matches, the Italy-Germany Azteca, will remain in history: twice ahead, the nerazzurri were brought back up to 3-2, before Acerbi in the last minute of regulation time equalised and Frattesi in extra time gave Simone Inzaghi's team the ticket for the final in Munich.

The start in the bedlam of the San Siro was even, Inter having a couple of potential chances on the counter but failing to get a shot on goal. The Nerazzurri revved up their engine, and Barella, after sombreroing an opponent, warmed Szczesny's hands with a great left-footer from the centre. But the goal was in the air, the San Siro could feel it, and it came: Dimarco found the right path for Dumfries, who avoided the offside trap and, alone in front of the goalkeeper, served Lautaro, who slotted into an empty net for his ninth goal in this Champions League edition.

Barcelona's reaction was vehement, Inter struggling to get out of their own half due to a few too many loose balls. After a mistake by Barella, Bastoni made a save on Ferran Torres' spot-kick, who then wasted a glorious chance from inside the box by kicking wide and then narrowly missed Lamine Yamal's cross. Inter responded with a right-footed volley from Mkhitaryan which went wide, a situation which was repeated shortly afterwards with Calhanoglu's left-footer from inside the area. But the Turk immediately had a chance to make up for it just before half-time.

Mkhitaryan sent Lautaro through on goal from yet another feed, but as he was about to shoot into the box he was brought down by Cubarsi in a desperate move: Marciniak needed the Var system to award a penalty, which Calhanoglu converted and Szczesny levelled. In the second half Barcelona came out of the dressing room better, upped the pressure and found the goal that reopened the contest, with Eric Garcia quickest to get on Martin's cross and beat Sommer with a flat right-footed volley. Inter tried to react, Barella from the edge of the box finding Szcesny's prompt reply. Barcelona, on the following corner, created the ball for a double with a fast counter-attack, but Sommer was magnificent and, with a resounding dive, avoided Eric Garcia's empty-goal goal.

But like Inter's lead in the first half, the goal was in the air: Gerard Martin crossed and found Dani Olmo who, taking advantage of a sleepy Barella marking, all alone headed the ball back into the tie. Inter were on their heels and Inzaghi tried to revive his side with the bench, inserting Darmian and Taremi with the Iranian replacing a heroic Lautaro Martinez, on the pitch for 70 minutes a week after his thigh injury. It was not enough, as Barça continued to push and Sommer was called upon to make another great intervention on Lamine Yamal. In the end, however, Inter finally capitulated, on yet another Barella error, two minutes from the 90th minute, when Raphinha's right-footed strike seemed to give the final to the Blaugrana. It seems, however, because he did not reckon with Inter, who never give up.