Inter Milan and Barcelona will settle their UEFA Champions League semifinal at San Siro after a spectacular 3-3 draw in the first leg. Two early goals gave Inter a dream start, but Barcelona’s relentless fightback keeps the tie wide open.
On the road at Camp Nou, Inter stunned the home crowd by netting twice within the opening 21 minutes. Yet 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal answered with a stunning strike, setting the stage for a pulsating contest.
Barcelona’s attack has been spearheaded by Raphinha, whose 12 goals this season place him ahead of Robert Lewandowski in the competition’s scoring charts. His long-range drives and lightning pace pose constant threats through the middle and along the wings.
Despite that firepower, questions linger over Barcelona’s defence. Coach Hansi Flick has stuck with Wojciech Szczesny in goal, even though Marc-Andre ter Stegen returned from a knee injury to help seal a 2-1 win at Valladolid on Saturday.
Inter will look to exploit those defensive cracks and lean on their clinical counterattacks. If history is any guide, teams scoring early hold a psychological edge in knockout ties—a statistic Inter aim to use to full effect.
With a wealth of talent on both sides and everything to play for, Tuesday’s return leg promises more drama. Will Barcelona’s stars shine brighter, or can Inter’s early dominance rewrite the semifinal narrative?
Reference(s):
Inter, Barcelona evenly poised for Champions League semis second leg
cgtn.com
