Barcelona and Inter Milan Draw 3-3 in Thrilling UCL Semi-Final First Leg

Barcelona and Inter Milan Battle to Thrilling 3-3 Draw in Champions League Semi-Final First Leg

Barcelona and Inter Milan delivered a Champions League classic in their semi-final first leg, ending in a 3-3 draw after a rollercoaster clash at Estadi de Montjuic. The match featured dramatic comebacks, a disallowed goal, and a breakout performance from Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.

Early Drama and Quick Fire Goals
Inter stunned the home crowd just 60 seconds in as Marcus Thuram’s clever flick gave the visitors a shock lead. The Italian side doubled their advantage in the 21st minute when Denzel Dumfries unleashed a spectacular scissor-kick volley from a corner. However, Barcelona responded swiftly, with 17-year-old Yamal weaving through Inter’s defense before slotting home a stunning solo goal to halve the deficit.

Yamal’s dazzling solo effort ignited Barcelona’s comeback.

Back-and-Forth Action
Ferran Torres leveled the score in the 38th minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to poke home. But Inter regained the lead before halftime, with Dumfries rising highest to head in his second goal from another corner. Barcelona’s resilience shone again in the second half as Raphinha’s thunderous strike from distance ricocheted off the crossbar and in via goalkeeper Yann Sommer’s back.

Controversy and Late Drama
Inter thought they’d snatched victory in the 76th minute when Henrikh Mkhitaryan tapped in, but the goal was disallowed by semi-automated offside technology, revealing his toe was millimeters offside. The decision left the game deadlocked, with both sides pushing for a winner in a frantic finale. Yamal, already the star of the night, nearly stole the spotlight again with a mazy run, but his effort was blocked.

Mkhitaryan’s disallowed goal sparked debate over the razor-thin offside call.

Yamal’s Coming-of-Age Performance
At just 17, Yamal dazzled with his composure and creativity, tormenting Inter’s defense throughout. His first-half goal and relentless runs earned praise from pundits, with TNT Sports’ Ally McCoist calling him “genius,” while Rio Ferdinand lauded his fearlessness on the big stage. Notably, Yamal had briefly worried fans pre-match after a warm-up injury scare, but he shrugged it off to deliver a career-defining display.

The teenager’s performance belied his age, earning global acclaim.

Looking Ahead
The result leaves the tie finely balanced for next week’s second leg in Milan. With no away goals rule, both teams will chase a decisive victory to secure a spot in the final. Barcelona’s attacking flair and Inter’s set-piece threat set the stage for another thrilling encounter. As Ferdinand noted, “This is why we love the Champions League—moments of brilliance, drama, and heroes emerging when it matters.”

Final Score: Barcelona 3-3 Inter Milan. The second leg kicks off on Tuesday, May 7, at San Siro.