Barcelona & Inter play out 3-3 draw in Champions League semi-final first leg
The match began with a stunning start, as Inter took the lead within just 30 seconds.
KATHMANDU: In a Champions League semi-final clash that lived up to the hype, Barcelona and Inter Milan battled to an exhilarating 3-3 draw at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Wednesday night.
The match began with a stunning start, as Inter took the lead within just 30 seconds.
Marcus Thuram shocked the home crowd by beating Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny with a swift and clinical strike. The visitors doubled their advantage in the 21st minute when Denzel Dumfries found the back of the net, further silencing the Catalan faithful.
However, Barcelona responded with resilience and flair. Just three minutes later, 16-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal showcased his brilliance with a dazzling solo goal to halve the deficit.
The comeback was complete in the 38th minute when Ferran Torres slotted home the equalizer, sending the teams into halftime level at 2-2.
The second half continued with the same intensity. Dumfries struck again in the 63rd minute, rising highest to head in a corner and restore Inter’s lead. But the drama was far from over.
Barely two minutes later, Barcelona found their third. Raphinha’s powerful long-range effort forced a mistake from Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer, resulting in an own goal and another equalizer for the hosts.
With neither side able to find a winner, the pulsating contest ended in a 3-3 draw, setting up a mouthwatering second leg next Tuesday at the iconic San Siro in Milan.
Meanwhile, in the first semi-final on Tuesday, Paris Saint-Germain secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Arsenal, thanks to a solid defensive performance and a decisive goal in the first half.
