(foto: Getty Images)
Barcelona and Inter played out a dramatic 3-3 draw in a thrilling Champions League semi-final first leg filled with goals, comebacks, and near-misses at Camp Nou.
Barcelona and Inter delivered a European classic on Wednesday night, finishing 3-3 in a wildly entertaining first leg of the Champions League semi-final at Camp Nou.
Inter stunned the home crowd early, taking the lead in just the first minute when Marcus Thuram scored with an audacious backheel finish. The shock continued in the 21st minute as Denzel Dumfries doubled the advantage with a close-range header from Acerbi's cross.
Barcelona hit back quickly. In the 24th minute, Lamine Yamal showcased his quality yet again, slashing through Inter’s backline to pull one back with a composed finish. The comeback was complete before halftime when Ferran Torres converted a clever header from Raphinha’s assist to make it 2-2.
Inter weren’t done. Dumfries struck again in the 63rd minute, this time from a corner, restoring Inter’s lead with his second goal of the night (3-2). But just two minutes later, Barcelona responded. A long-range effort from Raphinha ricocheted off the crossbar and then off goalkeeper Yann Sommer for a lucky equalizer (3-3).
In the 75th minute, Inter thought they had scored again, but the goal was ruled out for a marginal offside. Barcelona pushed relentlessly in the closing stages. Yamal struck the crossbar with a lobbed effort in the 87th minute and tested Sommer again in stoppage time, but the visitors held firm.
With the tie finely balanced at 3-3, the return leg in Milan promises another electric encounter, with both sides still dreaming of a place in the final at the Allianz Arena.