Barcelona 3-3 Internazionale: Lamine Yamal brilliance, Barcelona defensive chaos - was this the best game of the Champions League season?
Published 30/04/2025 at 22:34 GMT+1
The UEFA Champions League often throws up matches that will live long in the memory. Barcelona's 3-3 draw with Internazionale in the first leg of their semi-final was just that. The hosts were twice forced to come from behind in a pulsating match that Rio Ferdinand described as a "treat" for the watching public, while TNT Sports' Ally McCoist hailed the "unbelievable football" that was on show.
Highlights: Yamal stars as Barca and Inter play out six-goal thriller
Video credit: TNT Sports
The UEFA Champions League semi-finals often deliver, with the last-four of the competiton throwing up some of European football's most memorable matches.
Few will forget Chelsea's Fernando Torres-inspired success over Barcelona in 2012, when the Spaniard netted an injury-time goal to seal a 3-2 aggregate victory.
And then there is Liverpool's utterly ridiculous comeback, against the some opposition, in 2019.
Having trailed 3-0 from the first leg, Jurgen Klopp's men secured a sensational 4-0 success at Anfield to progress to the final, where they ultimately beat Spurs.
It was a welcome change, then, for the hosts Barcelona to be on the right end of a comeback, as they shared an instant classic with Internazionale.
The first leg of this last-four tie finished 3-3, with no shortage of drama, shaky defending and stunning shooting.
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It also sets up a mouthwatering return fixture at the San Siro next week.
The Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys was bouncing before kick off, as Barca, who had just beaten Real Madrid to lift the Copa del Rey, targeted another trophy.
It could be an unprecedented season for the club, who also sit top of La Liga and are eying a sixth European Cup.
But the crowd were silenced when Inter took a surprise lead with the fastest-ever goal in the semi-final of a Champions League tie.
Marcus Thuram, son of ex-Barcelona defender Lilian, was the man who got it, taking just 30 seconds to sensationally convert a right-wing cross with a glorious flick from near the penalty spot.
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'Dream start' for Inter as Thuram flicks in 'audacious' goal inside 30 seconds
Video credit: TNT Sports
The capacity crowd was stunned, but as if that was not enough of a surprise, Denzel Dumfries popped up to double the lead shortly afterwards.
The Dutchman is having his best goal-scoring season for Inter, so it was hardly a shock to see him pop up in the 18-yard box.
But he can have netted few more spectacular strikes, given the awkward angle at which the ball came to him from Francesco Acerbi.
The wing-back, from close range, was forced into an acrobatic effort that acted almost as a bicycle kick and left TNT Sports' Ally McCoist purring in the commentary box.
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Dumfries with 'out of this world' finish to double Inter's lead as Barca stunned
Video credit: TNT Sports
Fellow pundit Rio Ferdinand was critical of Barca's Pedri for the goal though.
The midfielder appeared to pull his head away from Dumfries, as the Inter man lifted his leg high to kick the ball.
Ferdinand called on the Spaniard to be braver, with the commentary team agreeing if he had leaned into the shot, the strike might have been ruled out for dangerous play because of a high foot.
'He's taking the mick!'
There cannot have been many people who believed that when Inter sprung into their two-goal lead, that would prove to be end of the scoring for the evening.
Even fewer would have thought Lamine Yamal would not be central to a Barcelona comeback.
And so it proved that the teenage sensation inspired his club to parity before half-time, getting the ball rolling when he danced past a couple of defenders before converting a wonderful whipped effort via the post.
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'Mesmerising' from Yamal as he scores worldie for Barcelona
Video credit: TNT Sports
From then on, the hosts laid siege on the visitor's goal, with Yann Sommer being forced into a string of fine saves.
Yamal - making his 100th club appearance - continued to play his part, once hitting the crossbar, while TNT Sports' Rio Ferdinand excitedly laughed: "He's taking the mick!"
There was only so long the Inter goalkeeper could keep their rampant hosts at bay, as after denying Dani Olmo, he was beaten by Ferran Torres from close range.
'He's having the night of his life!'
Things seemed to settle down for a little bit from there, but Inter retook the lead on 63 minutes, with a familiar face grabbing his second of the night.
Dumfries, who already had an assist and a goal to his name, threw himself at a corner that came into the box from the right.
And although his contact was not a clean one, the ball clattered into Dani Olmo and looped into the back of the net.
He was lauded by commentator Darren Fletcher for his impact on the game, but Barcelona's defending was questionable once more.
"Surely from a defensive point of view, that has to be handled better," said McCoist.
Ferdinand, who knows a thing or two about clearing corners, responded: "You've got to go and attack the ball. You've got to go and get the first contact.
"I think all the goals, they've got the first contact. You've got to be aggressive in those situations."
The lead lasted merely seconds though - 53 of them, to be exact.
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Raphinha thunderbolt - via Sommer - gives Barcelona latest equaliser in wild first leg
Video credit: TNT Sports
Barcelona went down the other end and won a corner of their own, from which they scored another spectacular strike.
Olmo delivered it short and low for Yamal on the edge of the area, but he let it run for Raphinha.
From 22 yards out, the former Leeds man unleashed an absolute thunderbolt that beat Sommer all ends up, left the bar rattling and then bounce in off the goalkeeper's back.
Still Inter pushed, and they had a Henrikh Mkhitaryan strike chalked off for offside.
The former Manchester United player had moved marginally too soon to get on the end of Dumfries' stunning pass, but the way in which the defence was split open by such a cross was alarming.
At the other end, a floated Yamal miskick bounced back off the woodwork and Sommer pawed away another vicious Raphinha effort, as both sides roared to the final whistle.
Pundits purr at 'unbelievable football'
The two teams therefore had to settle for a draw that will live long in the memory.
"Tonight was just special," concluded McCoist. "It was just special to be here, to watch those two teams and their contrasting styles.
"What a start! That start to the game kicked it off for us and it never stopped. You could argue that the second half was a little bit slower than the first half, but it was impossible to match it.
"We've been treated to some unbelievable football this evening and it's been a joy and a privilege to be here, it really has."
Ferdinand was in agreement, as he added: "I just feel it's been a great treat for those at home watching, and also ourselves here.
"To see that kid [Yamal] live... a mesmeric performance, especially the first 45 minutes.
"I'm somebody who wants to be taken off my seat. It makes you think, 'Wow, what is this? What are we witnessing?'
"That, today, for me, was a majestic performance. It leaves it beautifully poised for the next game. I can't wait."
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