Barcelona 3-3 Inter Milan: Highlights, man of the match, stats as records are broken in Champions League classic

Barcelona and Inter Milan served up a Champions League thriller on Wednesday night, with the two teams playing out a 3-3 draw in the first leg of their semi-final at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.

The fastest-ever semi-final goal in the Champions League was scored by Marcus Thuram just 30 seconds into the contest, and Inter then doubled their lead in the 21st minute through Denzel Dumfries.

The response from Barcelona was impressive, though, with Lamine Yamal becoming the youngest-ever goalscorer in a Champions League semi-final with a wonderful solo effort, before Ferran Torres converted from close range to make it a 2-2 game at the interval.

Raphinha‘s clever assist for Torres made it 20 goal contributions in a Champions League season for Barcelona, with the Brazilian moving past the legendary Lionel Messi‘s record in the process.

Inter were back ahead in the 64th minute through Dumfries, as he scored for the second time on the night, but Barcelona hit their third in the 65th minute when Raphinha’s wonderful strike rattled the crossbar before the ball struck Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer and ended up in the back of the net, and that proved to be the final piece of major action in Catalonia.

SPORTS MOLE’S VERDICT

© Iconsport

And breathe. What a match. An all-time classic in the Champions League.

The less said about some of the defending, the better, but this was a magical match that produced so many outstanding moments, with Inter more than holding their own against a super-talented Barcelona outfit.

Yamal was glorious, with the 17-year-old demonstrating once again that he is one of the finest players in world football, while Raphinha also put in a special performance in the final third of the field.

Inter deserve huge credit for their own contribution, with the Italian outfit making the most of some poor defending from Barcelona, and it could be more of the same in the second leg next week, as the La Liga giants take so many chances from a defensive point of view.

Even when Inter went 2-0 ahead, Barcelona were more than in the match, and it was not a surprise that they hit back so quickly, with Inter not having a chance to breathe before conceding a third in the 65th minute.

Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal will certainly believe that they can get at both of these sides, but there was a lot of attacking talent on display in this semi-final, particularly from Barcelona, who have a potential all-time great on their hands in Yamal.

BARCELONA VS. INTER MILAN HIGHLIGHTS

Marcus Thuram goal vs. Barcelona (1st min, Barcelona 0-1 Inter Milan)

Incredible start here, as Thuram’s wonderful flick ends up in the bottom corner of the net; it is a half-volley flick from the striker, and Barcelona have been stunned in the early stages of this Champions League semi-final.

Denzel Dumfries goal vs. Barcelona (21st min, Barcelona 0-2 Inter Milan)

Oh my word; Inter double their advantage in the 21st minute of the match, and it is a super volley from Dumfries, who meets a header from Francesco Acerbi inside the penalty box; Barcelona already have a lot of ground to make up here.

Lamine Yamal goal vs. Inter Milan (24th min, Barcelona 1-2 Inter Milan)

That is absolutely outrageous; stunning, stunning goal from Yamal, who shows incredible feet outside the Inter box before curling one into the far corner off the inside of the post; this teenager is a genuine superstar.

Ferran Torres goal vs. Inter Milan (38th min, Barcelona 2-2 Inter Milan)

All square here, as Torres converts from close range following a brilliant header from Raphinha – the pressure from Barcelona has been relentless, and we have already seen four goals in the first half of the first leg.

Denzel Dumfries goal vs. Barcelona (64th min, Barcelona 2-3 Inter Milan)

Inter regain the lead in the 64th minute of the contest, as Dumfries attacks a corner with his head and manages to find the back of the net for a second time tonight; this semi-final first leg produces again.

Yann Sommer own goal vs. Inter Milan (65th min, Barcelona 3-3 Inter Milan)

Inter’s lead did not last long! Barcelona level the scores in the 65th minute as Raphinha’s wonderful strike hits the crossbar before landing on the back of Inter goalkeeper Sommer and dropping into the back of the net.

MAN OF THE MATCH – DENZEL DUMFRIES

© Imago

It was some night for Dumfries, with the Inter defender coming up with two goals, and he had a shooting chance in the second period to score what would have been a special hat trick for the Netherlands international.

Dumfries also set up Thuram to make the breakthrough in the early stages of the contest, with the 29-year-old such a huge threat from an attacking point of view, and he will be looking to do more of the same in the second leg next week.

BARCELONA VS. INTER MILAN MATCH STATS

Possession: Barcelona 72%-28% Inter Milan
Shots: Barcelona 19-7 Inter Milan
Shots on target: Barcelona 9-3 Inter Milan
Corners: Barcelona 7-2 Inter Milan
Fouls: Barcelona 10-11 Inter Milan

BEST STATS

WHAT NEXT?

Barcelona’s attention will now switch back to La Liga, preparing to continue their domestic campaign with a clash against Real Valladolid on Saturday night; the Catalan giants are top of the La Liga table, four points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid.

Inter, meanwhile, will be bidding to bounce back from successive Serie A defeats when they host Hellas Verona on Saturday night; the Milan giants are second in the Serie A table, three points behind the leaders Napoli.

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