The meeting between the best attack in the 2024-25 Champions League season, Barcelona and the competition’s best defence, Inter, in the semifinal stage, produced an absolute thriller. The first leg was hosted in Spain at Estadio Olímpic Lluís Companys, ending in a goal-fest 3-3. The Catalan giants were heavy favourites for the tie, but the Nerazzuri proved that they won’t be dominated like others. Shaking off their losing form, Simeone Inzaghi’s men gave a splendid fight, taking the lead in only 30 seconds of the match. Marcus Thuram’s excellent feet from Denzel Dumfries’s cross put the visitors ahead.
Barcelona responded with their fluid football, causing problems for Inter’s defence with Ferran Torres, once again starting for the injured first-choice Robert Lewandowski, twice coming close to levelling things up. However, when the hosts focused on getting back into the tie, the Serie A contenders doubled the lead with the provider turned scorer, Dumfries, putting the ball in the net through a bicycle kick from the corner. Despite falling two goals behind, Flick’s side trusted their formula, which has been so effective for them this season and got the benefit through their genius wonderkid Lamine Yamal in his record-breaking evening.
Not bothered about Inter gang up on him to stop his progress, the 17-year-old’s talent shone as he danced through markers and unleashed his trademark left-footed curler to make it 2-1. He could have levelled up the score right after that strike, but was unfortunate to see his effort tipped onto the crossbar by Yann Sommer. The Catalan giants did not have to wait long for their reward for their work back into the game with Pedri’s lofted pass, followed well by Raphinha nodding it down for Torres to put it home beyond the former Swiss international, shortly before halftime.
The second half followed the same pattern, with Inter again starting brightly through their deadly counter-attack to expose Barcelona’s high line. Dimarco wildly shot above from close range, but they retook the lead soon after with Dumfries being a menace from corners again. The Dutchman converted a header this time, past the hour mark, not looking like a player who shook off an injury at the last moment to feature in this fixture. However, the host had an answer for that as well, with Raphina’s rocket hitting the crossbar and Sommer on the way to rest in the net to make it three all in this crazy game. All eyes will now be on the return leg in Italy, as determining who advances to the final of the competition is far from obvious.
Here is all the record set in the Champions League 2024-25 Semifinal first leg between Barcelona and Inter:
Magical night
The 3-3 score-line between Barcelona and Inter Milan was the joint-highest score drawn in a Champions League semi-final since Dynamo Kyiv’s 3-3 draw with Bayern München in April 1999. It was also the first semi-final game in 25 years to have four goals before half-time. Barcelona was also involved in that tie, with the opposition being fellow Spanish outfit Valencia.
In the blink of an eye
Marcus Thuram scored the fastest goal in a semifinal in Champions League history with just 30 seconds from kick-off. However, Inter Milan failed to win for the first time after scoring first in the Champions League this season, having picked up victory in all nine games previously.
Special player
At 17 years and 291 days, Lamine Yamal became the youngest player to score in a Champions League semi-final. The record was held by Real forward Kylian Mbappé, who scored for Monaco in 2017 at 18 years and 140 days. Earlier during Euro 2024, He also became the youngest player to score in UEFA Euro history
Milestone
The youngster also achieved an incredible landmark on the evening by completing his 100th competitive appearance in a Barcelona shirt since making his debut in April 2023, at only 15 years of age. Yamal also became the second under-18 player in Champions League history to start a semi-final after Julian Draxler (17 years, 226 days) did for Schalke 04 at Old Trafford in May 2011.
Brazilian magic
Raphinha became the first-ever Barcelona player and the first-ever Brazilian to be directly involved in 20 goals in a single Champions League campaign. Only Cristiano Ronaldo (21 in 2013/14) has been involved in more goals in a single season than him.
Assist King
The former Leeds United winger also assisted eight goals in the Champions League this season, the second most managed by any player in competition history.
Dutch Delight
Denzel Dumfries is the first Dutch player to score and assist in a Champions League semi-final since Wesley Sneijder in 2011, who also did the same for Inter against the same opposition, Barcelona. He is the third Dutch player to score twice at this stage of the competition and the first to be involved in all three goals. Dumfries is also the first Inter player to score a brace in a Champions League semifinal.
Best Minds
Nerazzuri’s coach, Simone Inzaghi, took charge of his 50th Champions League match, becoming the seventh Italian coach to reach this milestone, the most for any nation.
