Following the thrilling UEFA Champions League semifinal where Inter secured a 7-6 aggregate victory over Barcelona across two legs, attention now turns to Wednesday`s highly anticipated clash. Paris Saint-Germain will host Arsenal in the second leg of the other semifinal tie, with the final spot in the championship match at stake after PSG won the first leg 1-0.
Inter Milan Advances After Epic 13-Goal Semifinal Against Barcelona
In one of the most memorable semifinal ties in the tournament`s history, Inter Milan booked their place in this month`s Champions League final by overcoming Barcelona with a remarkable 7-6 aggregate scoreline after 210 minutes of play and a total of 13 goals.
Mirroring the first leg, Inter established an early lead in Milan on Tuesday. Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring in the 21st minute, followed by Hakan Calhanoglou`s penalty, giving Inter a 2-0 halftime advantage. Barcelona fought back in the second half, with Eric Gracia and Dani Olmo leveling the score by the hour mark, setting up a dramatic conclusion. Raphinha`s goal in the 87th minute briefly put Barcelona in the lead for the first time in the tie, bringing them close to their first final in a decade. However, Inter`s Francesco Acerbi equalized with just 90 seconds left in regular time, forcing extra time. Davide Frattesi netted the decisive goal in the 99th minute to seal Inter`s passage.
Simone Inzaghi`s side reaches their second Champions League final in three years, aiming for their first European title since their treble-winning campaign in 2009-10. This achievement is particularly noteworthy given the team`s status when Inzaghi took charge in 2021, following their first knockout appearance in 11 years. Inzaghi has elevated the team, securing a Serie A title alongside these two final appearances. While prioritizing defense, their clinical edge, demonstrated against Barcelona`s vulnerable back line, proved decisive. Key performers included goal scorers Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram, wing-back Denzel Dumfries with five goal contributions, and goalkeeper Yann Sommer, who made 14 saves over both legs.
Despite a season of inconsistency, the semifinal tie highlighted Inter`s potential to go all the way. Inzaghi has assembled a talented squad peaking at the crucial moment. However, as Francesco Porzio notes, this could be the last opportunity for some players, as the roster is expected to undergo significant changes.
There is a feeling, unlike both Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, that this might be the last dance for some parts of the Inter roster, as their current roster will be drastically changed in the summer of 2025. It will happen, as club president Giuseppe Marotta already said before the Barcelona semifinal first leg, especially because Inter`s new American owners, Oaktree, want to make the roster younger and still competitive in the near future. Some players will likely leave the team in the summer, regardless what happens in the final on May 31, but others will stay to make sure there is a future for this team, even if it will be probably added with some younger players.
PSG Hosts Arsenal With Final Spot on the Line
While Inter have secured their trip to Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal are vying for the remaining spot in the final today in the second leg of their semifinal in Paris. PSG holds a narrow 1-0 advantage from their first-leg victory in London last week, setting the stage for another tightly contested encounter.
Luis Enrique, PSG`s coach, confirmed that Ousmane Dembele, the scorer of the only goal in the tie so far, is fit and available for the second leg, having trained with the squad for two days after a potential muscle injury scare in the first leg. Dembele is crucial to PSG`s attack as they target their first Champions League final appearance in five years. Enrique highlighted Dembele`s excellent form within his tactical system, which has made PSG arguably the most formidable team in Europe recently.
Enrique sees the current success as just the beginning of the team`s evolution towards a system less reliant on individual star power. He emphasized the importance of sticking to their tactical plan to counter Arsenal`s efforts in Paris.
It`s normal in a construction process that in the first year there are still things to analyse, the second year is a year of clearer growth and confidence in our resources. Next year we will continue to excel on the biggest stages. … We`re bound to suffer because our opponents don`t have a favourable result. We need to match our performance as closely as possible in the first leg to win the return leg and stay true to our ideas.
For Arsenal, the second leg presents a significant challenge. Despite being defensively sound, their 1-0 deficit stems not from defensive frailty throughout the first leg, but from being caught out by PSG`s early press and their own lack of cutting edge in front of goal. The Gunners created chances but were wasteful, underscoring the absence of a consistent, clinical goalscorer.
Nevertheless, Arsenal possesses players capable of scoring, with Bukayo Saka (11 goals) and Leandro Trossard (10 goals) potentially playing key roles in Paris. The onus is on Arsenal`s attack to perform while simultaneously coping with PSG`s effective pressing game, a challenge few teams have successfully met since PSG hit their stride in the winter.
