Barcelona twice came from behind against Inter Milan to snatch a draw in a six-goal first-leg thriller to leave their Champions League semi-final finely poised.
Inter stunned the hosts after just 30 seconds when Marcus Thuram turned in Denzel Dumfries’ low cross with an audacious backheel flick to score the fastest goal in a last-four game in the competition’s history.
Dutch full-back Dumfries doubled the visitors’ lead with a stunning overhead kick 20 minutes later and it looked like Barca had a mountain to climb.
But Lamine Yamal turned on the magic to transform the game.
He struck a wonderful 24th-minute reply as he drifted inside and skipped past several defenders before unleashing a left-foot finish that kissed the post before landing in the net.
Yamal was at the heart of everything Barca did, hitting the woodwork twice but marking his 100th appearance for the club with a 22nd goal to add to his 33 assists at the age of just 17.
Ferran Torres capped off an enthralling first half with a 38th-minute equaliser for the hosts, stabbing home from close range after Raphinha headed down Pedri’s crossfield ball.
But the impressive Dumfries scored his second of the night in the 63rd minute to restore Inter’s lead when he rose highest to meet Hakan Calhanoglu’s corner.
But Barca again responded in style and levelled just two minutes later when a stunning 25-yard strike from Raphinha clattered the bar, bounced down and into the net, via a touch off Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer’s back.
The breathless affair leaves the tie in the balance with the second leg on Tuesday at the San Siro in Milan.
Discussion about this post