YOU DECIDE: Where does Inter Milan v Barcelona classic rank amongst the greatest UEFA Champions semi-finals?
Published 07/05/2025 at 13:01 GMT+1
Inter and Barcelona served up a UEFA Champions League classic as they scored 13 goals between them in an epic semi-final. It was Inter who prevailed 7-6 on aggregate to reach the final against either Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain. Where does the clash rank among the greatest Champions League semi-finals? Relive some of the best and have your say on which was the most memorable...
Highlights: Frattesi's extra time winner sends Inter to final after epic Barca battle
Video credit: TNT Sports
Inter’s incredible 7-6 aggregate win over Barcelona was without a doubt one of the greatest UEFA Champions League semi-finals of all time.
But was it the greatest?
There’s stiff competition with some belting semi-final ties featuring Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Chelsea.
It’s up to YOU to rank these classic Champions League semi-finals…
Inter 7-6 Barcelona (2025)
Inter blew 2-0 leads in both legs and fell behind for the first time in the tie in the 87th minute of the second leg, but still somehow made it through to the final.
Centre-back Francesco Acerbi, 37, levelled at 6-6 on aggregate when he turned in a cross with just minutes remaining.
Substitute Davide Frattesi then sent San Siro wild when he scored the winner in extra time.
Barca had fought back from 2-0 down, just as they did at home, and scored three times without reply to lead late in the tie. Before conceding in injury time, they saw Lamine Yamal go agonisingly close to sealing the win when he hit the post as the clock ticked down.
Real Madrid 6-5 Manchester City (2022)
Real Madrid’s last-gasp win over Manchester City in the 2022 semis is one of the all-time great late comebacks - and for City, perhaps their worst-ever collapse.
After winning the first leg 4-3, City were leading by two goals going into the 90th minute at the Bernabeu following a strike from Riyad Mahrez.
Madrid, who hadn’t had a shot on target at that point, looked out of it.
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Highlights: Real Madrid defeat Manchester City 6-5 on aggregate to reach 2022 final
Video credit: TNT Sports
Then in a whirlwind 90 seconds, Rodrygo turned home a cross to give Madrid hope, before scoring again to make it level on aggregate.
In extra time, it was Madrid who prevailed, Ruben Dias conceding a penalty and Karim Benzema slotting home to secure a remarkable win.
Liverpool 4-3 Barcelona (2019)
As Trent Alexander-Arnold leaves Liverpool, one of his most memorable contributions in his 20 years at the club was that assist against Barcelona in 2019.
Liverpool had produced a stunning fightback to level the tie on aggregate after losing the first leg 3-0 at Camp Nou.
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Relive Alexander-Arnold’s most iconic Liverpool moment
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Alexander-Arnold’s smart thinking then sent Anfield wild as he caught Barca’s defence napping with a quickly-taken corner that was finished by Divock Origi.
It was the first time since 1986 that a team had overcome a three-goal first-leg deficit to win a semi-final in the European Cup/Champions League.
Ajax 3-3 Tottenham (2019)
"Oh they’ve done it… I cannot believe it!"
Maurico Pochettino down on his knees, Ajax players flat out on the grass, Jermaine Jenas speechless on commentary.
Lucas Moura's 96th-minute winner to send Tottenham to the 2019 final is one of the iconic moments in Champions League history.
Spurs had trailed 3-0 in the tie but two goals in five minutes from Moura gave them hope of progressing. With seconds remaining, Dele Alli teed up Moura and he fired into the bottom corner to send Spurs through on away goals.
Roma 6-7 Liverpool (2018)
Before Inter and Barca's thriller, it was the 13-goal tie between Liverpool and Roma in 2018 that held the honour for the highest-scoring Champions League semi-final.
Seven of the goals came in the first leg as Liverpool roared out into a 5-2 lead.
The game looked done when Jurgen Klopp's side scored first in Rome through Sadio Mane to extend their advantage to four.
But Roma fought back to make it close and set up a nervy finish before Liverpool secured their place in the final.
Barcelona 3-1 Real Madrid (2011)
Barcelona v Real Madrid in 2011 was peak El Clasico.
It was Pep Guardiola v Jose Mourinho, Lionel Messi v Pepe, press conference barbs and accusations, and tetchy and tense on and off the pitch.
A bad-tempered semi-final first leg saw Pepe sent off, Mourinho sent to the stands, and Messi score twice to put Barca 2-0 ahead.
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Pep Guardiola (L) and Jose Mourinho in 2011
Image credit: Getty Images
Real Madrid striker Emmanuel Adebayor accused Barca afterwards of being "cry babies" and "far away from fair play".
The second leg, played in heavy rain, passed with less incident as goals from Pedro and Marcelo cancelled each other out and Barca progressed to the final.
Inter 3-2 Barcelona (2010)
Before Inter 7-6 Barcelona, there was Inter 3-2 Barcelona.
It wasn't the same goal-filled frenzy, but was a two-legged masterclass from Jose Mourinho's Inter against Pep Guardiola's Barca.
Inter took control of the tie with a 3-1 victory in the first leg at home.
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Flashback: Mourinho beats and taunts Barca to reach UCL final with Inter in 2010
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They then defended fantastically, even after being reduced to 10 men, to restrict Barca to a single goal at Camp Nou.
Cue Mourinho running around the pitch with his finger in the air and the sprinklers being turned on.
Chelsea 1-1 Barcelona (2009)
Barcelona’s semi-final win over Chelsea in 2009 did not feature a glut of goals, but it did feature one of the most memorable away-goal winners from Andres Iniesta.
Chelsea were leading 1-0 through a Michael Essien strike and had kept 10-man Barca at bay for most of the game.
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Andres Iniesta celebrates scoring for Barcelona against Chelsea in 2009
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Indeed, Barca hadn’t had a shot on target when the clock passed 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge.
But up stepped Iniesta, finding the top corner with a superb first-time shot from the edge of the area to send Barca to the final against Manchester United.
Chelsea 4-3 Liverpool (2008)
After being knocked out by Liverpool in the 2005 and 2007 semi-finals, it was third time lucky for Chelsea in 2008.
Following a 1-1 draw at Anfield in the first leg, most of the drama came at Stamford Bridge.
Didier Drogba gave Chelsea the lead in the 33rd minute, only for Fernando Torres to reply for Liverpool.
In extra time, Chelsea pulled clear through a Frank Lampard penalty and a second goal from Drogba. A long-range strike from Ryan Babel set up a tight finish but Chelsea held on to reach the final.
Juventus 3-4 Man Utd (1999)
The 1999 Champions League final featured one of the most remarkable climaxes in the competition’s history, but Manchester United’s semi-final win over Juventus was also not short of drama.
After a 1-1 first-leg draw at Old Trafford, United looked in trouble when Filippo Inzaghi’s double inside 11 minutes put Juventus on the brink of a fourth straight final.
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Gary Neville (L) and Denis Irwin celebrate Man Utd reaching the 1999 Champions League final
Image credit: Getty Images
But Roy Keane sparked a stunning revival, heading in from David Beckham’s corner after 24 minutes, and continuing to lead by example despite a 33rd-minute yellow card ruling him out of the final.
Dwight Yorke’s header moments after Keane’s booking had United through on away goals and Andy Cole tapped in late on to seal the win.
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