BARCELONA, Spain, April 30 (Reuters) – Barcelona and Inter Milan engage in a thrilling 3-3 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Wednesday night. Inter kicked off the scoring right away, taking the lead with a back-heel goal from Marcus Thuram just 30 seconds into the match, the fastest goal in semi-final history.
Denzel Dumfries doubled Inter’s advantage in the 21st minute with an acrobatic volley from a corner, putting the visitors up 2-0 early on. However, Barcelona’s 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal sparked a comeback with a stunning individual goal just three minutes later, cutting Inter’s lead in half and lighting up the home crowd.
Barcelona continued pressing, and Ferran Torres leveled the match in the 38th minute, seamlessly converting a knockdown from Raphinha. Despite their resurgence, Inter struck again with Dumfries heading home from a corner in the 64th minute. Less than a minute later, Raphinha answered back with a fierce strike from outside the area that deflected off Inter keeper Yann Sommer, equalizing the match at 3-3.
The result leaves everything to play for in the second leg at San Siro next Tuesday, as both teams vie for a spot in the Champions League final in Munich against either Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain.
“When you play at home like we did, the sensation is that we should have managed to earn a better result,” Raphinha said in a post-match interview with Movistar Plus. “We can’t concede that many goals, especially at home… But the result isn’t that bad. It leaves everything open for the return leg in Milan.”
Throughout the match, Barcelona’s dominance was challenged by Inter’s clinical finishing and strategic counterattacks. Sommer’s performance in goal was pivotal for Inter, making critical saves to ensure the draw.
Barcelona, still energized from their Copa del Rey victory against Real Madrid just a few days prior, struggled under the weight of a tight schedule and were already missing star striker Robert Lewandowski. The situation worsened when fullback Jules Koundé was forced to leave the match due to a suspected muscle injury in the first half.
“The match was beautiful and entertaining, even from the pitch we experienced it well, facing players of crazy caliber,” said Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni, who acknowledged Barcelona’s prowess. “Now it’s back to 0-0 again and whoever wins goes to the final, so let’s do it.”
As both squads prepare for the decisive second leg, Barcelona has highlighted their young stars while Inter seeks to address their own injury concerns. The stage is set for a climactic showdown next Tuesday as they each aim for a coveted place in the final.
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