emirates7 - Davide Frattesi sent Inter Milan into the Champions League final with a dramatic extra-time goal on Tuesday, securing a thrilling 4-3 win over Barcelona on the night and a 7-6 aggregate victory in a classic encounter.
The Italian midfielder smashed home the decisive strike in the 99th minute amid pouring rain at a jubilant San Siro, igniting wild celebrations among the home supporters.
Inter, led by Simone Inzaghi, will now prepare to face either Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain in the final in Munich later this month. After surviving such an intense semifinal, they’ll believe they have a real shot at lifting their fourth European crown.
The win salvaged what had been a faltering season for Inter. Despite eliminating Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals, their hopes of a treble were dashed when Napoli overtook them in Serie A and AC Milan knocked them out of the Coppa Italia two weeks ago.
Yet, Inter shattered Barcelona's dreams of a historic quadruple and now look ahead to their second Champions League final in three years with renewed confidence.
Frattesi’s goal — his seventh of the season and undoubtedly the most crucial of his career — was even more remarkable considering Inter were on the brink of elimination just minutes earlier.
Barça had turned a 2-0 halftime deficit into a 3-2 lead, with Raphinha completing the comeback in the 88th minute. But in the second minute of stoppage time, Francesco Acerbi stunned the visitors by bundling in a cross from Denzel Dumfries, leveling the aggregate score and pushing the match into extra time.
Barcelona had dominated the second half, clawing back through goals from Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo, both set up by pinpoint deliveries from Gerard Martin. Inter’s goalkeeper Yann Sommer kept his side in the match with several outstanding saves, including a standout stop from Garcia and a vital late one from Lamine Yamal in the 113th minute. Yamal also hit the post shortly before Acerbi's dramatic equaliser.
In the end, Inter stood firm through the tense final minutes, and when the whistle blew to end this unforgettable clash, the San Siro erupted in a deafening celebration of one of the most exhilarating matches of the season.
The Italian midfielder smashed home the decisive strike in the 99th minute amid pouring rain at a jubilant San Siro, igniting wild celebrations among the home supporters.
Inter, led by Simone Inzaghi, will now prepare to face either Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain in the final in Munich later this month. After surviving such an intense semifinal, they’ll believe they have a real shot at lifting their fourth European crown.
The win salvaged what had been a faltering season for Inter. Despite eliminating Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals, their hopes of a treble were dashed when Napoli overtook them in Serie A and AC Milan knocked them out of the Coppa Italia two weeks ago.
Yet, Inter shattered Barcelona's dreams of a historic quadruple and now look ahead to their second Champions League final in three years with renewed confidence.
Frattesi’s goal — his seventh of the season and undoubtedly the most crucial of his career — was even more remarkable considering Inter were on the brink of elimination just minutes earlier.
Barça had turned a 2-0 halftime deficit into a 3-2 lead, with Raphinha completing the comeback in the 88th minute. But in the second minute of stoppage time, Francesco Acerbi stunned the visitors by bundling in a cross from Denzel Dumfries, leveling the aggregate score and pushing the match into extra time.
Barcelona had dominated the second half, clawing back through goals from Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo, both set up by pinpoint deliveries from Gerard Martin. Inter’s goalkeeper Yann Sommer kept his side in the match with several outstanding saves, including a standout stop from Garcia and a vital late one from Lamine Yamal in the 113th minute. Yamal also hit the post shortly before Acerbi's dramatic equaliser.
In the end, Inter stood firm through the tense final minutes, and when the whistle blew to end this unforgettable clash, the San Siro erupted in a deafening celebration of one of the most exhilarating matches of the season.