Champions League | Barcelona 3-3 Inter: Dumfries double for thrilling semi final | OneFootball

Inter had been leading with a Marcus Thuram back-heel flick and acrobatic Denzel Dumfries brace, but Barcelona fought back for a 3-3 thriller, so the Champions League semi-final will be decided at San Siro.

The Nerazzurri went from potential Treble winners to the real risk of ending the season empty-handed after three consecutive defeats in all competition. Thuram and Dumfries returned to the starting XI, but Benjamin Pavard missed out with a sprained ankle. The Blaugrana were still in the hunt for a hat-trick and beat Real Madrid 3-2 in extra time on Saturday for the Copa del Rey Final. Roberto Lewandowski, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Alejandro Balde, Marc Casadó and Marc Bernal were out of action. Lamine Yamal interrupted the warm-up with a thigh twinge, but was still able to start.

The second leg will be at San Siro on Tuesday May 6.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

It was the most extraordinary start for Inter, who took the lead within 30 seconds when Dumfries rolled it across from the right for Thuram’s audacious back-heel flick from eight yards, dribbling past ex-Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny into the far bottom corner.

Ferran Torres drilled inches wide from just inside the area, then flashed a dangerous effort across the face of goal from a cleared corner, but it was Inter who doubled their lead on a set play.

BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 30: Denzel Dumfries of FC Internazionale scores his team’s second goal whilst under pressure from Pedri and Frenkie de Jong of FC Barcelona during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between FC Barcelona and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on April 30, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Federico Dimarco’s corner was knocked down by Francesco Acerbi for the acrobatic Dumfries volley from five yards, another player returning from injury who was so badly missed during the last few weeks.

It didn’t take long for Barcelona to respond with some magic of their own, as Lamine Yamal cut inside from the right, shimmied past Henrikh Mkhitaryan and bent an unstoppable left-foot finish in off the inside of the far post.

Moments later, Lamine Yamal sent Dimarco to ground with a cutback and his finish from an improbable angle was fingertipped onto the crossbar by Yann Sommer.

Dani Olmo fired straight at Sommer, the goalkeeper also getting down quickly to push a daisy-cutter round the post from the edge of the area.

BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 30: Yann Sommer of FC Internazionale saves a shot from Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between FC Barcelona and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on April 30, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Barcelona eventually did complete the comeback when Raphinha nodded down a long Pedri ball at the back stick for Ferran Torres to prod home from six yards.

Injury problems pile up for Barcelona and Inter

However, Jules Koundé limped off just before half-time and Lautaro Martinez also suffered a muscular problem, replaced for the restart by Mehdi Taremi.

BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 30: Denzel Dumfries of FC Internazionale scores his team’s third goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between FC Barcelona and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on April 30, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Dimarco ballooned over the bar on a deflected Bisseck cross and Inter restored their advantage when Hakan Calhanoglu’s corner found the head of Dumfries, aided by a deflection off Olmo.

It lasted only a couple of minutes, as a Barcelona corner found Raphinha outside the area for a scorcher that hit the crossbar and bounced in off goalkeeper Sommer’s back.

Pau Cubarsi sprinted back to make a decisive block as Thuram ran onto the Mkhitaryan through ball and pulled the trigger.

Mkhitaryan fired into the roof of the net on 76 minutes, but his toes were offside as Dumfries rolled it across from the right.

Lamine Yamal’s strange cross-shot looped over Sommer to thump the crossbar on 88 minutes.

Barcelona 3-3 Inter

Thuram 1 (I), Dumfries 21, 63 (I), Lamine Yamal 24 (B), Ferran Torres 38 (B), Sommer og 65 (B)