Barcelona fight back to draw six-goal Champions League thriller with Inter
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Lamine Yamal (right) led Barcelona's fightback, after Inter scored in the first and 21st minutes.
PHOTO: AFP
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BARCELONA - Barcelona twice battled back to draw 3-3 at home against Inter Milan in a rip-roaring first leg of their Champions League semi-final at Montjuic Olympic Stadium on April 30.
Inter Milan made an explosive start, opening the scoring within the first minute courtesy of a cheeky back-heel goal from Marcus Thuram. The visitors extended their lead in the 21st minute with Denzel Dumfries finding the net with an acrobatic volley from a corner.
However, an electrifying Lamine Yamal led Barcelona’s fightback, unleashing a superb strike from inside the box after a clever run from the right to reduce the deficit three minutes after Inter’s second goal.
Yamal went close again, hitting the post from close range before Ferran Torres levelled the score in the 38th minute with a first-time finish.
Despite Barcelona’s dominance, it was Inter who regained the lead in the 64th minute when Dumfries headed home from a corner. The hosts responded immediately, as Raphinha’s thunderous strike from outside the box hit the woodwork before ricocheting off the back of Inter keeper Yann Sommer and into the net to restore parity.
The result leaves everything to play for in the return leg at the San Siro on May 6, as both teams seek a place in the final in Munich against either Arsenal or Paris St Germain.
‘Duty to win’
“When you play at home like we did, the sensation is that we should have managed to earn a better result,” Raphinha told Movistar Plus.
“We can’t concede that many goals, especially at home. Sure, you have to give praise to our opponents who are strong and played well tonight but we are Barca and it’s our duty to win at home, that’s how it is.
“But the result is not that bad and it leaves it all open for the return leg in Milan so we will try to correct the mistakes so we can go there and grab the win that will take us to the final.”
Inter Milan’s Marcus Thuram scored his team’s first goal in the first minute with a cheeky back-heel kick.
PHOTO: AFP
In a riveting encounter, Inter were clinical with their finishing and withstood Barcelona’s relentless attack while capitalising on counter-attacks and set-pieces. Keeper Yann Sommer was instrumental in securing the draw for Inter with a series of impressive saves.
Barcelona, fresh from their thrilling 3-2 victory over arch-rivals Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final on April 26, appeared to be feeling the effects of that gruelling, ill-tempered 120-minute match.
The team, already without striker Robert Lewandowski, suffered a further blow when French fullback Jules Kounde was forced off in the first half with a suspected leg muscle injury.
Barcelona’s Raphinha scored their third goal, after his shot hit the post before ricocheting off the back of Inter keeper Yann Sommer.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Inter also had injury concerns, with star striker Lautaro Martinez unable to return for the second half due to a hamstring issue, having already lost Benjamin Pavard to an ankle injury.
Barcelona’s Yamal was seemingly unstoppable and twice hit the frame of the goal, including with a late chip following a brilliant run, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan thought he had scored Inter’s fourth on another quick counter, but the VAR replay showed he was offside by the tip of his boot. REUTERS
