In a pulsating Champions League semifinal first leg, Barcelona and Inter Milan played out a gripping 3-3 draw at the Olympic Stadium, leaving the tie finely poised. Lamine Yamal, marking his 100th appearance for Barcelona, stole the show with a sublime solo goal and twice struck the bar, inspiring a stunning comeback from two goals down.
Inter stunned the hosts just 30 seconds in, as Marcus Thuram, fresh from injury concerns, latched onto a poor clearance from Jules Kounde to score the fastest-ever Champions League semifinal goal with a cheeky back-heel. Denzel Dumfries doubled Inter’s lead with a fine strike, capitalizing on a slip from Inigo Martinez, as the Italians threatened to run away with it.
Barcelona, chasing a quadruple, roared back with Yamal’s magic. The 17-year-old weaved through defenders to pull one back, igniting the 50,000-strong crowd. Ferran Torres, deputizing for the injured Robert Lewandowski, leveled the score, but Dumfries struck again for Inter. A late own goal by Yann Sommer ensured the spoils were shared, setting up a blockbuster second leg.
Yamal’s relentless energy and near-misses, including two shots off the woodwork, underscored his growing stature, while Inter’s resilience keeps their treble dreams alive despite recent domestic struggles. Both sides will now regroup for what promises to be an epic return fixture.