Davide Frattesi’s extra-time goal propelled Inter Milan into the Champions League final on Tuesday, securing a thrilling 4-3 victory over Barcelona, for a 7-6 aggregate triumph.
Italy midfielder Frattesi scored the decisive goal in the 99th minute of a captivating match played under heavy rain in Milan, sending the ecstatic San Siro crowd into wild celebrations.
Simone Inzaghi’s Inter will now face either Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain in the final in Munich later this month, feeling confident of their chances to lift their fourth European title after emerging victorious from this epic encounter.
Tuesday’s win salvaged Inter’s season, which had seen their treble aspirations fade after their quarter-final victory over Bayern Munich.
Following that success, Inter lost their Serie A lead to Napoli, who are now strong favorites for the domestic league title, and were also knocked out of the Italian Cup by AC Milan two weeks prior.
However, Inter dashed Barcelona’s hopes of a quadruple and now enter the final weeks of the season with renewed confidence, looking forward to their second Champions League final in three seasons.
Frattesi’s winning goal, his seventh of the season and arguably the most significant of his career, was particularly remarkable as Inter appeared to be heading for elimination just minutes earlier.
With two minutes of regular time remaining, Raphinha’s goal completed Barcelona’s comeback from a two-goal half-time deficit, giving them a 3-2 lead on the night.
But Francesco Acerbi stunned the stadium, especially the celebrating Barcelona supporters, by forcing home Denzel Dumfries’ cross in the second minute of added time, sending the match into extra time.
This equalizer came unexpectedly, as Barcelona had been the dominant team in the second half of normal time after trailing at the break due to a brilliant Lautaro Martinez goal and Hakan Calhanoglu’s penalty in first-half stoppage time.
Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo had brought Barcelona level with goals in the 54th and 60th minutes, both assisted by excellent deliveries from Gerard Martin.
Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer had to be at his best to keep his team within reach.
Sommer made a spectacular save, perhaps the save of the season, between Barcelona’s first two goals, somehow denying Eric Garcia from close range after a swift Barcelona counter-attack.
The Swiss goalkeeper proved crucial again in the 113th minute, pulling off another miraculous save from Lamine Yamal, who had hit the post just before Acerbi’s equalizer.
Inter then held off Barcelona’s advances as the home fans held their breath before erupting in a massive roar at the final whistle of what many considered the match of the season.
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