It’s very rare that you get a two-legged Champions League contest where both ties are absolute classics.
This was one such exception.
In fact, both ties reminded me of the epic Manchester United-Barcelona encounters in the 1998-99 season, both of which ended 3-3.
Fast forward a quarter of a century and the parallels were identical but the stakes even higher.
A semi-final for the ages between the Italian champions and the team in pole position to be crowned Spanish champions.
After last week’s thrilling first leg in Catalonia, I predicted another compelling return in the San Siro but with far fewer goals.
How wrong was I!
This was even more dramatic than the first leg.
And the upshot of it all is that, after 123 minutes and a record number of goals in a two-legged Champions League semi-final, Inter Milan are in the final of Europe’s showpiece occasion for the second time in three years.
Defeated finalists in 2023, the difference between now and two years ago is that they will no longer be the big underdogs they were then.
To sum up the San Siro spectacle, Inter were on top before the break with two goals under their belt but they looked completely out of it as Barcelona took a 3-2 lead.
Yet just when Hansi Flick’s side looked set for a first Champions League final in a decade, a late equaliser in normal time and an extra-time winner turned it all around.
The stoppage time equaliser in normal time came from the boot of Francesco Acerbi’s whose 93rd minute strike saw him become the second oldest scorer in a Champions League semi-final (37 years, 85 days) after Ryan Giggs for Manchester United v Schalke in 2010-11 (37 years, 148 days).
Such are the fine margins at this level, teenage star Lamine Yamal had hit the post for Barcelona seconds before Acerbi levelled things up.
There were more ecstatic scenes when substitute Davide Frattesi won it for the passionate Italians, curling a beautiful left-footed shot into the bottom corner in the first period of extra time before climbing up a security fence to celebrate in front of Inter’s fans.
Never mind a few Champions League 2025 highlights, this was a tie that will be remembered for many years to come.
A final word for two players this SBOTOP writer has always rated.
Denzel Dumfries, who scored (two) and assisted (three) five of Inter’s seven goals in the tie, having had just three goal involvements in his first 39 appearances in the competition (one goal, two assists).
And, of course, goalkeeper Yann Sommer, an unsung hero and a custodian of the highest standards, he made 14 saves across the tie and kept Barca out on numerous occasions.
The upshot is that Simone Inzaghi now takes the Nerazzurri to Munich in Germany, aiming to emulate Jose Mourinho’s 2010 Inter masterpiece.
Their opponents in the May 31 final will be Paris St Germain who always seemed destined to break Arsenal’s hearts.
Whether the Gunners could have done more with a fit Gabriel in central defence and a Gabriel Jesus or Kai Havertz in attack, we will never know.
What we do know, though, is that over two legs, the French champions were too strong and the North Londoners never seemed likely to replicate their quarter-final heroics against holders Real Madrid.
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, they were denied by Gianluigi Donnarumma during a bright start before an uphill task became much harder when Fabian Ruiz rifled in a superb opener midway through the first half.
The inconsistency which so plagues the game right now reared its head again on the hour when teenage full-back Myles Lewis-Skelly was adjudged to have handballed Achraf Hakimi’s shot in the box.
Justice appeared to be done when David Raya saved Vitinha’s poor penalty but the respite was briefed as substitute Ousmane Dembélé found Achraf Hakimi and he shaped a wonderful effort into the far corner.
As the home fans ramped up the noise, they could afford to dream of Munich and, while there was a brief lull when Bukayo Saka capitalised on some hesitant home defending four minutes later, the same player missed a gilt-edged chance shortly afterwards and with it, the dreams of Mikel Arteta and his players were over.
The Champions League 2025 betting odds will change a few times between now and the end of the month, but one thing is certain: Munich expects.
We have one hell of a final on our hands.
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