Barcelona and Inter put on a show in historic six-goal Champions League semi-final | OneFootball

In one of the best semi-finals in the history of the UEFA Champions League, Barcelona and Inter Milan drew 3-3 in a game marked by goals and high-quality team play with a great deal of tactical coordination from training sessions. The second leg will be played next week at the San Siro, on a historic stage that should witness another historic match.

It looked like Barça would be able to apply pressure from the first minute, but Inter scored the fastest goal in the history of the semi-finals thanks to Marcus Thuram. Having been out of action for the last three matches (coincidentally, three defeats), the Frenchman needed seconds to deflect in a soft cross from Dumfries to score a superb free-kick.

FC Barcelona v FC Internazionale Milano - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg | Eurasia Sport Images/GettyImages

Betting on low lines and fast transitions, Inter got their second goal in the 21st minute when Dumfries took advantage of a corner to hit an excellent volley from close range, showing the Italians' strength in set pieces. Barcelona didn't get flustered, however, and showed plenty of resilience.

Just three minutes later, Yamal began to make a huge impact in yet another decisive game and ended up scoring a superb goal, leaving several markers to beat with a slap, one of which touched Sommer's crossbar before going in. And in the 38th minute, it was Raphinha's turn to receive Pedri's cross and head home to leave Ferran Torres free to make it 2-2.

FC Barcelona v FC Internazionale Milano - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg | MB Media/GettyImages

After the break, Inter tried to replicate the same momentum as at the start of the game and were very threatening in the first few minutes of the second half, with Dimarco and Çãlhanoglu requiring a lot of attention from goalkeeper Szczesny. After insisting, the Italians got their third goal when they were under pressure, with Dumfries scoring his second goal of the game to leave the Barcelona goalkeeper behind.

But Barcelona held firm and went on to equalize with another collective goal. From a corner kick, Dani Olmo took the ball and Yamal cut back for Raphinha to come free and unleash a firm shot that hit the crossbar before going in to give the game its final score.

Who is the favorite to advance after the first leg?

Barcelona are the most consistent team in the UEFA Champions League this season, but Inter's strong defense and renewed confidence mean that the Italians are slightly favored to qualify for the final in front of their home fans.