The UEFA Champions League served up another unforgettable night as Barcelona and Inter Milan played out a breathtaking 3-3 draw in the first leg of their semi-final showdown at a raucous Olympic Stadium at Montjuïc on Tuesday night.
In a match that had everything—six goals, world-class strikes, teenage brilliance, and drama until the final whistle—both teams will feel they could’ve won it, yet neither could find the knockout blow. With the return leg set for San Siro next week, the tie hangs tantalizingly in the balance.
Dream Start for Inter
Simone Inzaghi’s Inter Milan came into the game winless in four, but that form vanished in just 30 seconds. Dutch wing-back Denzel Dumfries whipped in a dangerous cross, and Marcus Thuram produced an audacious backheel flick that snuck past Wojciech Szczesny and stunned the home crowd.
Thuram early goal for Inter Milan
That flick was top-notch pic.twitter.com/Nt4aZS9Acc— Ken (@CFCKen_) April 30, 2025
Barça tried to respond immediately, with Ferran Torres missing two great chances inside the box. His profligacy was punished in the 21st minute as Inter struck again—this time through Dumfries, who met Francesco Acerbi’s flick-on with a spectacular acrobatic finish to double the visitors’ lead.
It was clinical, ruthless, and efficient—everything Inzaghi had called for after a rough few weeks.
— Goalshive (@Goalsgalore_101) April 30, 2025
Yamal Sparks Barcelona Fightback
Just when it seemed Barcelona might collapse under the pressure, up stepped their 16-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal. Picking up the ball near the touchline, he danced past a series of defenders and curled a sublime strike into the far corner, clipping the post on its way in. It was a goal of staggering quality—and one that reignited the hosts.
— Goalshive (@Goalsgalore_101) April 30, 2025
Minutes later, the teenager nearly had a second, but Yann Sommer brilliantly tipped his ferocious angled strike onto the crossbar. Barcelona were now rampant.
The equaliser arrived shortly before half-time. A flowing team move ended with Raphinha floating a perfect header into the path of Torres, who atoned for his earlier misses by slotting home calmly from close range. At 2-2, Olympic Stadium at Montjuïc was rocking again.
— Goalshive (@Goalsgalore_101) April 30, 2025
Second Half Delivers More Chaos
The second half began with a blow for Inter, as star striker Lautaro Martínez failed to return from the dressing room due to injury. Even without their top scorer, Inter threatened. Federico Dimarco wasted a golden chance, blasting over from close range after a clever cutback.
But Inter’s strength at set-pieces again proved decisive in the 63rd minute. Hakan Calhanoglu delivered a pinpoint corner and Dumfries—already on the scoresheet—rose highest to head in his second of the night. The Dutchman’s brace looked like it might win it.
— Chelsea fan (@laroi_23) April 30, 2025
Not so fast.
Just two minutes later, Raphinha unleashed a thunderbolt from distance. The ball cannoned off the underside of the crossbar, struck Sommer, and trickled over the line. It was eventually ruled an own goal, but it was a moment of brilliance nonetheless that drew Barcelona level at 3-3.
El sonido del larguero. pic.twitter.com/mjSIaLY7If
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) May 1, 2025
High-Octane Finish With No Decisive Blow
Both sides threw everything at the closing stages. Henrikh Mkhitaryan thought he’d won it for Inter with a composed finish, but the flag was up for offside. Yamal, still electric in the dying minutes, saw another effort deflect off the post, narrowly denying him a sensational winner.
Despite a few half-chances in stoppage time, neither team could land the final punch. The match ended 3-3—a result that perfectly captures the drama and unpredictability of the night.
Key Stats and Performances
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Lamine Yamal became the youngest player to score in a Champions League semi-final and was the standout performer for Barcelona, terrorizing Inter’s defence all evening.
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Denzel Dumfries had a night to remember with two goals and an assist, delivering one of the best performances of his Inter career.
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Raphinha recorded a goal contribution and an assist, continuing his hot form in Europe.
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Barcelona extended their unbeaten run at home in the Champions League this season, while Inter showed they can hang with anyone—even away from San Siro.
The return leg in Milan now promises to be another spectacle, with all to play for and no away goals rule to tip the scale. Both managers will have plenty to ponder, especially defensively, after a match where attackers reigned supreme.
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