Background and Context
The UEFA Champions League semifinals of the 2024-25 season delivered one of the most thrilling series in the competition’s history, as Inter Milan and Barcelona captivated fans with their intense performances. The Italian team ultimately emerged victorious, securing a global score of 7-6 against Barcelona.
The Match Details
In the first leg at Barcelona’s Estadio Olímpico de Montjuic, both teams played to a 3-3 draw. The return match at Inter Milan’s Giuseppe Meazza Stadium was equally captivating, ending with a 4-3 Inter victory in extra time, featuring two comebacks.
- Inter Milan took an early 2-0 lead with goals from Lautaro Martínez and a Hakan Calhanoglu penalty.
- Barcelona equalized with goals from Eric García and Dani Olmo within the first 15 minutes of the second half.
- Raphinha’s late goal for Barcelona seemed to secure the win, but Francesco Acerbi equalized for Inter with just seconds remaining in regulation time.
- Davide Frattesi scored the winning goal for Inter in the 99th minute, sealing a dramatic 7-6 victory.
Impact and Significance
Inter Milan’s triumph marks their seventh UEFA Champions League final appearance, having previously reached the final in 1964, 1965, 1967, 1972, 2010, and 2023. This series became the third-highest scoring elimination match in Champions League history, tying 13 goals with Liverpool vs. Roma in 2018 and Bayern Munich vs. Sporting Lisbon in 2009.
Inter Milan has won the Champions League (formerly Copa Europea) three times, in 1964 against Real Madrid, 1965 against Benfica, and 2010 against Bayern Munich. After a 13-year absence from the final, they lost to Manchester City in 2023 by a narrow 0-1 margin. Now, they await either Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal in the 2025 final at Germany’s Allianz Arena.
Barcelona, on the other hand, has not reached a Champions League final since their 3-1 victory over Juventus in the 2014-15 season, featuring their legendary trident of Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and Neymar. This season, the Catalan club aimed for a triple crown, having already won the Copa del Rey and being close to securing LaLiga. However, their Champions League aspirations were dashed by Inter Milan.
Barcelona’s coach, Hansi Flick, acknowledged Inter Milan’s strength and experience while expressing optimism for his young team’s future development.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who were the teams involved in this dramatic UEFA Champions League semifinal? Inter Milan and Barcelona.
- What was the global score of this series? Inter Milan won 7-6.
- How many times has Inter Milan reached the UEFA Champions League final? Seven times.
- What is the significance of this series in Champions League history? It is tied for the third-highest scoring elimination match with 13 goals.
- What are Inter Milan’s upcoming opponents in the 2025 final? The winner between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal.
- How has Barcelona’s recent history in the Champions League been? Barcelona hasn’t reached a final since 2015 and aims to return to that level of success.
