Inter Milan booked their place in the Champions League final in dramatic fashion, substitute Davide Frattesi scoring the decisive goal in extra time to secure a barnstorming 4-3 victory over Barcelona on Tuesday. Francesco Acerbi had earlier hauled Inter back from the brink of elimination with a stunning late equaliser in added time.
Frattesi’s strike sealed a breathtaking 7-6 aggregate win in a semi-final for the ages, propelling the Italian side to the Munich final where they will face either Paris St Germain or Arsenal later this month.
The match was a captivating affair of contrasting halves. Inter controlled the opening 45 minutes, taking a commanding two-goal lead. Lautaro Martinez struck on the counter-attack in the 21st minute before Hakan Calhanoglu extended their advantage from the penalty spot just before the interval.
However, Barcelona emerged a different side after the break. Eric Garcia pulled one back before Dani Olmo levelled the score just six minutes later, injecting new life into the contest. Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer was then called into action, making a series of crucial saves to keep the hosts in the tie. It appeared Barcelona had snatched victory when Raphinha scored from close range in the 87th minute.
But Inter mounted a desperate late surge. Denzel Dumfries found the veteran Acerbi inside the box, and the 37-year-old defender fired a first-time shot into the net, scoring his first-ever European goal in his 20th season and forcing the semi-final into extra time.
The decisive moment arrived in the 99th minute. Marcus Thuram embarked on a brilliant run down the right flank and delivered a precise pass into the area for Frattesi. The substitute composed himself before neatly guiding a curling shot into the bottom corner, sending the jubilant Inter supporters into raptures and securing their place in the Champions League final.
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