In a thrilling first leg of the Champions League semifinals held at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona and Inter played out an epic 3-3 draw. The tie is now level heading into the return leg in Italy.
Marcus Thuram made an impactful return to Inter`s starting lineup, scoring the fastest goal in Champions League semifinal history just 30 seconds into the match. For Barcelona, 17-year-old Lamine Yamal continued to dazzle, netting a superb solo goal in his 100th appearance for the club. Despite Yamal`s brilliance, which included hitting the post late on, Barcelona struggled to contain Inter`s threat from set pieces.
Denzel Dumfries was a standout performer for Inter, scoring two goals directly from corner kicks in a high-paced, end-to-end encounter that had fans on the edge of their seats. This captivating first leg sets the stage for an exciting second leg in Milan. Let`s take a closer look at how the players performed in this memorable match.
Barcelona Player Ratings
| Name | Minutes | How did they do | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wojciech Szczesny | 90 | Struggled on set pieces and was caught out as Inter profited from corner kicks. A match to forget for the keeper, who needs to improve significantly for Barcelona`s chances in Italy. | 5 |
| Gerard Martin | 45 | Substituted at halftime in a tactical switch. Like Kounde, it was a challenging game for the full-back. | 5 |
| Inigo Martinez | 90 | Had a slightly better performance than some defensive partners, but conceding three goals diminishes the impact. | 6 |
| Pau Cubarsi | 83 | Similar to his defensive partner, did not have his best game initially, but the defense tightened up in the second half contributing to securing the draw. | 6 |
| Jules Kounde | 42 | Beaten for Thuram`s early goal and then forced off due to injury. A forgettable appearance. | 5 |
| Frenkie de Jong | 90 | Created some opportunities and linked well with Pedri to maintain possession. However, defensive struggles were a team issue affecting most non-attacking players. | 6 |
| Pedri | 83 | As usual, effective in keeping Barcelona`s attack flowing. While not spectacular, his simple, efficient play complemented the brilliance of players ahead of him. | 6 |
| Dani Olmo | 68 | Unfortunate not to score, found pockets of space when Inter focused wide and tested the goalkeeper. | 7 |
| Raphinha | 90 | Provided an assist and was involved in the build-up to what became an own goal off the bar. Another strong performance from the Brazilian, crucial for Barcelona`s hopes in the tie. | 8 |
| Ferran Torres | 90 | Stepped up effectively in Robert Lewandowski`s absence, leading the line and scoring. Did well to keep the attack productive. | 8 |
| Lamine Yamal | 90 | Phenomenal display from the 17-year-old. His runs, vision, and finishing ability were all on show, highlighted by his brilliant solo goal. Near-perfect performance. | 9 |
| Substitutes | Replaced | How did they do? | Rating |
| Eric Garcia | Jules Kounde | Brought stability and was composed on the ball after being brought on unexpectedly early. | 6 |
| Ronald Araujo | Gerard Martin | Provided much-needed defensive solidity. His performance off the bench suggests he should be considered for a starting spot in the second leg. | 6 |
| Fermin Lopez | Dani Olmo | Helped keep the attack moving and tested the keeper. A solid contribution from a substitute. | 6 |
| Andreas Christensen | Pau Cubarsi | Brought on for fresh legs and tactical reasons, with Cubarsi on a yellow card. | N/A |
| Gavi | Pedri | Came on late to help control the end of the game, had little time to make a major impact but kept things ticking over. | N/A |
| Manager | Subs used | How did the manager do? | Rating |
| Hansi Flick | 5 | His team showed resilience to come back after falling two goals behind. Set-piece defense is a concern, but overall a reasonable performance given the circumstances. | 6 |
Inter Player Ratings
| Name | Minutes | How did they do | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yann Sommer | 90 | Despite strong form previously, this was a difficult night. While Barcelona had a high xG relative to their goals, some saves could have been made, plus the unfortunate own goal off his back. | 4 |
| Alessandro Bastoni | 90 | Not his most dominant performance in defensive duels, which allowed Barcelona extra shooting opportunities inside the box. | 6 |
| Francesco Acerbi | 90 | Contributed an assist from a set piece and generally positioned well, clearing potential threats before they turned into goals. | 7 |
| Yann Bisseck | 90 | Filling in, he found it tough to keep pace with Barcelona`s dynamic attackers, a common issue but magnified in this high-speed game. | 5 |
| Federico Dimarco | 56 | Returned from injury and offered attacking support, but expended a lot of energy trying to manage Lamine Yamal. | 5 |
| Henrikh Mkhitaryan | 90 | Unlucky not to score. While defensively average, his creativity was key in making things happen for Inter. | 6 |
| Hakan Calhanoglu | 71 | His excellent set-piece delivery was vital, contributing significantly to Inter`s goals. Avoiding a yellow card in the second leg will be important. | 7 |
| Nicolo Barella | 90 | A quieter match than usual by his standards. Found it difficult to dictate the tempo with Barcelona dominating possession. | 6 |
| Denzel Dumfries | 81 | Exceptional contribution with two goals from set pieces and an assist from open play. Outstanding production from a right back. | 9 |
| Marcus Thuram | 81 | Showcased his importance immediately with the opening goal. His movement and ball control were excellent, vital if Inter are to progress. | 8 |
| Lautaro Martinez | 45 | Couldn`t get heavily involved in a high-scoring first half before picking up a back injury. A significant loss for Inter`s attack. | 5 |
| Substitutes | Replaced | How did they do? | Rating |
| Matteo Darmian | Denzel Dumfries | Provided fresh legs defensively, tasked primarily with preventing Barcelona from scoring further. | N/A |
| Carlos Agusto | Federico Dimarco | Created some chances and performed adequately defensively against Barcelona`s tough wingers. | 6 |
| Davide Frattesi | Hakan Calhanoglu | Saw limited involvement as Barcelona largely controlled possession late in the game. | 6 |
| Piotr Zielinski | Marcus Thuram | Came on for fresh legs and defensive support, with little opportunity to impact the attack. | N/A |
| Mehdi Taremi | Lautaro Martinez | Barely touched the ball after coming on. The loss of both Martinez and potentially Thuram is a major concern for the second leg. | N/A |
| Manager | Subs used | How did the manager do? | Rating |
| Simone Inzaghi | 5 | His team scored three goals away from home, a good attacking output given recent form and injuries. However, conceding three is an area that needs urgent attention for the return leg. | 7 |
