Inter are through to the Champions League final!

We don’t know for sure, but the probability is very low: it's unlikely we'll witness another match like this. Minutes after the final whistle, we were all in the same state – exhausted, dazed, ecstatic and aware that we’ve just witnessed history. At a raining San Siro, from home, from everywhere. We’re in the Champions League final, and the whole world will be talking about this Inter side, about a victory so extraordinary that the word “epic” could never do it justice. If Italy 4-3 Germany is perhaps the most iconic football match ever - dubbed the Game of the Century - then Inter 4-3 Barcelona fearlessly stands as one of the most incredible matches of the new millennium. Because this Inter team doesn’t give up. This is an astonishing side full of character, imagination and resilience, and these players have the ability to find strength out of nowhere. What happened at San Siro belongs in the history books: 2-0 ahead, then trailing 3-2 in the 88th minute, only to equalise in stoppage time. Extra time, Frattesi’s goal, Sommer’s heroics between the sticks.

It’s the Nerazzurri who are heading to the final in Munich. They’re heading there despite the brilliance of Yamal; they’re heading there because Sommer played like Superman, because Lautaro gritted his teeth and found the net, because Calhanoglu is ruthless from the penalty spot, because Acerbi isn’t just a rock in defence – he also has an eye for goal. And because Davide Frattesi is a one-of-a-kind player, unmatched in his ability to strike and turn situations in Inter’s favour. There was everything: a crowd that stirred deep emotions, from the first minute to the last. The light rain, a two-goal lead, a comeback from our opponents, the fear of what was next, Yamal’s bursts of speed, and the team’s sheer will to fight back no matter what. And then overwhelming joy, songs, hugs. Simone Inzaghi, soaked to the bone in his rain-drenched suit, has led Inter to the Champions League final, just like he did in 2023. The Nerazzurri will face either PSG or Arsenal. The date is set: Munich, 31 May.

Thanks to a truly legendary performance, Inter beat Barcelona 4-3 after extra time to advance to the Champions League final. The Nerazzurri were up 2-0 at the end of the first half thanks to goals from Lautaro and Calhanoglu (from the penalty spot). In the second half, Barcelona mounted a comeback as Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo both scored within the space of six minutes. Then, with 88 minutes on the clock, Raphinha made it 3-2 to the visitors. It seemed over, but Inter pushed forward and found a 93rd-minute equaliser through Acerbi. In an endless match, Sommer thwarted Barcelona on several occasions. And in the first half of extra time, the winning goal arrived: Taremi laid it off to Frattesi, who found the net with a left-footed strike. Then, it was all about digging deep until the 120th minute, with Sommer producing heroics between the sticks. It finished 4-3 and Inter are heading to the Champions League final, where they will face either PSG or Arsenal on 31 May in Munich.

INTER 4-3 BARCELONA (aet)

Goalscorers: 21' Lautaro (I), 45+1' pen. Calhanoglu, 54' Eric Garcia (B), 60' Olmo (B), 88' Raphinha (B), 90+3' Acerbi (I), 99' Frattesi (I)

[7-6 on aggregate]

INTER (3-5-2): 1 Sommer; 31 Bisseck (36 Darmian 71'), 15 Acerbi, 95 Bastoni; 2 Dumfries (6 De Vrij 108'), 23 Barella, 20 Calhanoglu (7 Zielinski 79'), 22 Mkhitaryan (16 Frattesi 79'), 32 Dimarco (30 Carlos Augusto 55'); 9 Thuram, 10 Lautaro (99 Taremi 71'). Substitutes: 12 Di Gennaro, 13 J. Martinez, 8 Arnautovic, 21 Asllani, 56 Re Cecconi, 59 Zalewski. Head Coach: Simone Inzaghi.

BARCELONA (4-2-3-1):25 Szczęsny; 24 Eric Garcia (32 Fort 98'), 2 Cubarsí (18 Pau Victor 106'), 5 Iñigo Martínez (4 Araujo 76'), 35 Gerard Martin; 21 De Jong, 8 Pedri (6 Gavi 106'); 19 Yamal, 20 Dani Olmo (16 Fermin Lopez 82'), 11 Raphinha; 7 Ferran Torres (9 Lewandowski 91'). Substitutes: 13 Iñaki Peña, 26 Astralaga, 10 Fati, 15 Christensen, 44 Farré, 45 Darvich. Head Coach: Hans-Dieter Flick.

Booked: Calhanoglu (I), Iñigo Martínez (B), Mkhitaryan (I), Acerbi (I), Carlos Augusto (I), Bastoni (I) Stoppage time: 3' - 6' - 3' - 2'

Referee: Szymon Marciniak POL Assistants: Tomasz Listkiewicz, Adam Kupsik POL Fourth official: Paweł Raczkowski POL VAR: Dennis Higler NED VAR assistant: Pol van Boekel NED