Barcelona and Inter Milan produced one of the all-time great Champions League semi-final matches on Wednesday night, drawing 3-3 in a pulsating encounter at the Olympic Stadium in Montjuïc.
The first leg of this heavyweight clash had it all—world-class goals, relentless drama, tactical fireworks, and one teenage sensation who stole the global spotlight: Lamine Yamal.
It was a night that had echoes of Champions League classics gone by. But this time, the script was co-written by a 17-year-old prodigy.
Inter Strike Early, Barça Left Reeling
Inter Milan delivered an immediate shock to the home crowd by scoring just 30 seconds in—Marcus Thuram flicked in a delightful backheel from Denzel Dumfries’ low cross, setting a new record for the fastest goal in a Champions League semi-final.
Barcelona were shellshocked, and the visitors weren’t done.
In the 21st minute, Dumfries turned from provider to scorer, launching himself to meet a looping corner with an acrobatic volley to double Inter’s lead and silence the stadium.
But just as it looked like Barça would crumble, Yamal sparked the revival.
Lamine Yamal: A Star is Born—Again
Making his 100th appearance for Barcelona, Lamine Yamal produced a display that drew Messi comparisons—not just for his position and academy roots, but for his audacity, skill, and clutch brilliance.
Just three minutes after Inter’s second, Yamal danced past defenders with absurd ease and curled in a sumptuous finish off the far post to make it 2-1. The crowd erupted.
He wasn’t done.
The 17-year-old almost equalized minutes later with a thunderous shot that crashed off the crossbar.
Then, in the 38th minute, he helped unlock Inter’s defense again, with Ferran Torres sweeping home after Pedri’s cross was cleverly knocked down by Raphinha.
Barça were level before the break—thanks in large part to a teenager defying logic and pressure on the grandest stage.
Second-Half Drama: Dumfries Again, Sommer Own Goal, VAR Agony
Inter struck again in the 64th minute—once more through Dumfries, who rose highest to head in Calhanoglu’s corner, restoring the Italians’ lead and bagging his second of the night.
But Barça hit back just two minutes later with a stroke of chaos and brilliance.
Raphinha’s thunderbolt from 25 yards rattled the crossbar and bounced off goalkeeper Yann Sommer’s back before trickling over the line.
An own goal, but one born of sheer attacking intent.
Inter nearly won it late on when Henrikh Mkhitaryan tucked away what looked like the fourth, but VAR ruled it out by the narrowest of margins—his boot millimeters offside.
Yamal then nearly delivered the ultimate finale, gliding into the box and clipping a shot that beat Sommer but struck the angle of bar and post.
Coaches React: “He’s a Talent That Comes Once Every 50 Years”
After the match, Inter boss Simone Inzaghi summed up what the world had just witnessed:
“Lamine is the kind of talent that comes along every 50 years. We tried to double-mark him, and it still wasn’t enough.”
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick echoed the sentiment: “He’s a genius. In the big games, he always shows up.”
Records Keep Falling for the ‘Boy King’
Youngest player to score in a Champions League semi-final
Youngest player to 100 Barcelona appearances
22 club goals and 33 assists—all before turning 18
Youngest ever to play and score at a Euros, where he led Spain to the 2024 title
And all of this from a player who had injury doubts before kick-off, limping off during warm-ups.
All to Play for in Milan
The 3-3 result sets up an unmissable second leg at San Siro next Tuesday. The winner will face either Arsenal or PSG in the final in Munich.
Barcelona’s flaws—especially defensively—remain evident, with Robert Lewandowski out and Jules Koundé injured. But with Yamal playing like a cheat code, anything seems possible.
