Barcelona 3-3 Inter Milan: What Were The Main Talking Points As The European Giants Play Out A Champions League Classic In Catalonia?

In what will be ed as an iconic Champions League battle, Barcelona and Inter Milan got their respective semi-final adventure underway with a sensational 3-3 stalemate in Catalonia.

While the Nerazzurri might have travelled to Spain in the midst of a major rut, Inter took a remarkable 30 second lead as French international Marcus Thuram produced a smart finish and silenced the home .

Flying out of the traps, Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries doubled Inter’s lead thanks to a sensational overhead kick 20 minutes later and appeared to be storming their way to a heavyweight European scalp.

However, with the pressure at a boiling point, 17-year-old superstar Lamine Yamal flipped the script as Barca’s attacking talisman struck a wonderful solo effort in what was his 100th appearances for the club.

In a rollercoaster first-half from Catalonia, Ferran Torres completed Barca’s comeback as the ex-Manchester City star finished off a free-flowing move seven minutes before the break.

Despite it looking inevitable at some points that Barcelona would add a third, it was Inter’s turn to once again silence the home .

Dumfries scored his second of the night in the 63rd minute to restore Inter’s lead when he rose highest to meet Hakan Calhanoglu’s corner.

But Barca again responded in dramatic fashion just seconds later when a stunning strike from Raphinha clattered against the bar, before rebounding off the back of a helpless Yann Sommer.

The two European giants will meet at the San Siro next week with a semi-final spot firmly hanging in the balance.

In what was a Champions League thriller from Catalonia on Wednesday night, we have taken a look at the main talking points from Catalonia.

Barcelona miss out on the chance to claim a first-leg advantage

While Barcelona might have mounted a pair of comebacks in Catalonia on Wednesday night, Flick’s side will know that they have a huge uphill battle on their hands next week.

Crowned Copa del Rey champions in midweek after collecting a sensational 3-2 victory against Real Madrid, Barca have their sights set on completing an iconic silverware sweep in 2025.

However, although Flick’s men might have continued to receive a string of plaudits from across the continent, defensive struggles will be a growing concern for the German tactician.

With a 3-1 loss against Borussia Dortmund on April 15th their only defeat across any competition so far this calendar year, Barca should also be concerned by their most recent trip to Milan.

Falling to a 1-0 loss when they travelled to the San Siro for a group stage showdown back in October 2020, the former Bayern Munich boss will certainly be ruing a missed opportunity here.

Another away day success for Inter

Watching their Coppa Italia adventure come to an infamous end on April 23rd as they slumped to a 3-0 drumming against arch-rivals AC Milan, Inter travelled to Catalonia on Wednesday in the midst of a record-breaking rut.

Losing three consecutive appearances across all competitions for the first time since 2019, Simone Inzaghi’s men were regarded as a landslide underdog by many here.

However, getting their quarter-final campaign underway with a 2-1 victory away at German giants Bayern Munich earlier in the month, the Nerazzurri will leave Spain felling like they have come out on top.

Feeling like they are sat in the driving seat when they return to Milan next week, Wednesday’s guests have gained a fearsome reputation for their European success at the San Siro.

Not suffering a single Champions League defeat in front of their own ers since September 2022, Inter are unbeaten in all of their last 15 consecutive appearances (12 wins, three draws).

Yamal steals the show in Catalonia

While the red-hot Raphinha might have opened Wednesday’s first-leg showdown having notched 12 goals in as many Champions League appearances, it is Barca’s academy graduate who has stolen plenty of the headlines around Catalonia.

Spearheading Spain’s charge to a historic fourth European crown last summer, Yamal has enjoyed a remarkable rise to superstardom.

Dragging Flick’s side back into the game midway through the first-half thanks to what was a sensational solo effort, the 17-year-old sensation has even been billed as a potential Ballon d’Or contender.

Quickly becoming the poster boy around Catalonia and now rightfully regarded as a generational talent, Yamal has continued to shatter a string of records.

Already making 100 appearances for the Spanish icons and producing 55 direct goal contributions, eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi had only ed nine outings by the age of 17.

Match Report

Barcelona: Szczesny, Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Martin, de Jong, Pedri, Olmo, Yamal, Raphinha, Torres

Subs: Araujo, Christensen, Garcia, Gavi, Lopez

Inter Milan: Sommer, Bisseck, Acerbi, Bastoni, Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco, Thuram, Martinez

Subs: Augusto, Frattesi, Darmian, Taremi, Zielinski

Goals: Barcelona: Yamal (24’), Torres (38’), Sommer OG (65’) – Inter Milan: Thuram (1’), Dumfries (21’, 63’)

Yellow Cards: Barcelona: Cubarsi – Inter Milan: Calhanoglu

Red Cards: N/A

Referee: Clement Turpin