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Inter Milan Simone Anzaghi (right) embraces defender Francesco Acerbi after winning the second leg of the Champions League semifinals in San Siro, Milan, on the 7th.
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"The best drama you can make with a round ball"
Italy's Serie A traditional strongman Inter Milan completed a miraculous drama to win a ticket to the UEFA Champions League (UCL) final. Barcelona, Spain's prestigious Primera Liga, was the tragic scapegoat of a huge upset that could be seen in games or movies.
Inter Milan won the second round of the 2024-2025 UCL semifinals at 4 a.m. on the 7th (Korean time) in San Siro, Milan, Italy, after a neck-and-neck race going to extra time. In this way, Inter Milan won the final round with a combined score of 7-6 in the first and second games.
As a result, Inter Milan will aim for the big year (Champions League Trophy) again for the first time in 15 years since the 2009-2010 season. The final opponent is the winner of the match between Arsenal (EPL) and Paris Saint-Germain (League 1).
Following the first game (3-3) at home in Barcelona, the second game was followed by a fierce feast of attacking football.
Inter Milan was armed with good news even before the game. Martinez Lautaro, the front-line striker who was injured, returned and became the best player again. With Lautaro at the center, Marcus Thurang, Henrik Mikitarian, Hakan Chalhanoglu, Nicolo Barella, Federico DiMarco, Denzel Doompris, Jan Aurel Bisek, Francesco Acerbi and Aleksandro Bastoni were among the starters. The goalkeeper was Jan Zimmer.
In response, Barcelona had a starting lineup of goalkeepers, Boichiech Szczesny, Hafinha, Ramin Yamal, Dani Olmo, Pedri, Frenkie the Yong, Gerard Martin, Inigo Martinez, Pau Kubarsi, and Eric Garcia.
Inter Milan, who played at home, led the game with the enthusiastic support of home fans on their back. In the end, he scored the first goal 21 minutes into the first half. Strong forward pressure was the solution. After successful interception from the midfield, Doompris and Lautaro surged sharply into the goal. Lautaro then hit a finishing blow. Lautaro's shot shook the net.
Inter Milan, who scored the first goal, scored an additional goal at the end of the first half. Again, Lautaro played the role of a troubleshooter. At the same time as his teammates collapsed the Barcelona defense line from the side, Lautaro broke through the box and threatened the goal. Defender Kubarsi couldn't stand it and committed a foul. In the end, a penalty was declared after an on-field review video reading (VAR).
Chalhanoglu was in charge of the shot. He made it 2-0 by penetrating the right corner of Barcelona's goal accurately.
Inter Milan's run to the finals looked like a solidifying signal. However, Barcelona's potential burst without regret in the second half.
Barcelona, led by Ramin Yamal, scored a chasing goal nine minutes into the second half. Fullback defenseman Eric Garcia actively participated in the attack and scored his first goal. Then, in the 15th minute of the second half, Dani Olmo pushed the ball that Gerard Martin put in an early cross into the Inter Milan goal with a diving header. a 2-2 equalizer. The game went back to square one.
Rather, the initiative was handed over to Barcelona. In the 23rd minute of the second half, Barcelona induced a free-kick chance from the front of the box by Ramin Yamal. As a kicker, not Ramin Yamal, but Hafinha stepped up. He tried to catch Inter Milan off guard with a surprise operation, but failed to score.
Inter Milan made a change of players to change the atmosphere. Apart from Martinez and Vasek, Taremi and Darmian were put in. In response, Barcelona also added Araujo instead of Inigo Martinez. It was an operation against the strengthening of the offense and the strengthening of the defense.
It was Barcelona who succeeded in turning the tables for the first time. In the 42nd minute of the second half, Hafinha scored a goal. It was Hafinha's 13th goal in the UCL. This is the most goals scored in the Champions League. It almost seemed like this was the game. The sigh of the Inter Milan home crowd shot through the sky.
But the players on the ground didn't give up. Five minutes were given extra time in the second half. A miracle happened. Inter Milan veteran Acerbi scored a dramatic equalizer with two minutes left in stoppage time. In the end, the game went into extra time. The clock of the match began to flow again toward Inter Milan.
In the eighth minute of extra time, Pratesh calmly scored off Thurang's pass in the box. Barcelona were struggling. Gavi and Roberto Lewandowski were added to the attack late in the extra period. But Inter Milan held on and held on.
In the pouring downpour, a great marriage took place at the end of the game. In the 23rd minute of the second half of extra time, Yamal hit a shot into the corner of the opposite goal after receiving Lewandowski's pass. However, he went out of the goal, caught by the fingertips of goalkeeper Zommer who flew. Luck was not on Barcelona's side. Eventually, joy and sorrow crossed with the ending whistle. Barcelona cradled his head while Inter Milan players cheered.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
