In the same vein as the first leg, I Nerazzurri roared into a 2-0 lead, through Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Calhanoglu goals in the first half.
In an incredible turn of events, La Blaugrana went 3-2 up, identical to the first leg through a quick double from Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo, before Raphina looked to have won the tie on 87 minutes.
37-year-old Francesco Acerbi, who made his debut for Pavia in the fifth division of Italian football 385 days before starboy Lamine Yamal took his first breath, was the hero at the San Siro with a equalising goal three minutes into injury time.
Unbelievably, a second 90 minutes between the sides had ended with three goals a piece, sending the game into extra time to decide who would play in the final. After coming on ten minutes from regular time, Frattesi scored on 99 minutes to send the 70,000 Inter fans into a frenzy that lasted to the final whistle and beyond, as Barcelona were unable to nick an equaliser.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the contest.
Dumfries - best in the world?
In recent years world football has perhaps lacked a significant ‘best right back’, on the level of Dani Alves, Phillip Lahm or Cafu, to name three.
Achraf Hakimi, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kyle Walker and more recently Jeremie Frimpong have held the crucible over the last 5-10 years, but there might be a new kid on the block.
Ok, to say a 29-year-old is ‘new’ or a ‘kid’ is possibly misleading. But to say Denzel Dumfries has never/rarely been mentioned in the best current right-back in world football conversation is correct.
Over the course of the two legs the Dutch right ‘wing’ back to be pedantic, registered two goals and three assists and although the goalkeeper, Yann Sommer won the the man of the match award in the second leg, he did win the award in the first leg and was given the highest match rating by Fotmob in each match, by some distance.
With ratings of 8.9 and 9.3, Lamine Yamal was the only other player to receive anything above an 8.3 in either leg, according to Fotmob.
He boasts a skillset that epitomises the full-back, for the modern game or otherwise and his role in Simone Inzaghi’s five-at-the-back system is crucial, with workrate so important, as he is so important for both the defensive and attacking combinations that his team employ.
With just one more required to equal his goal tally for the previous three season in Milan, he has really picked up the goals and especially if his team does manage to go all the way, he will surely deserve to be included in that best right-back in the world conversation.
Inter are hungry
Following the disappointment of the Champions League final loss against Manchester City two years ago, Inzaghi’s men clearly have a hunger to reinstate themselves as Champions of Europe, 15 years after Jose Mourinho led his side to the treble.
Just two weeks ago, they were beaten by city counterparts AC Milan in the semi-final of the Coppa Italia and currently sit second in Serie A, three points behind Napoli with three games to go.
Considering a slight slip-up in form, with just one win in six before this win, the Italian title could be seen as slipping slowly away. This did not phase their performance here however, with Inzaghi’s signature style of trying to win the ball back as soon as they lose it on full display, with multiple goals and chances coming from this.
To put a cherry on top, this could be one of the last times the prestigious trophy could make its’ way to the San Siro, with both Milan clubs looking to possibly move out in the coming years.
Attacking prowess
The front two of Martinez and Marcus Thuram caused many a problem for the Spaniards across the two legs, each picking up the opening goals.
Son of legendary defender Lilian Thuram, Marcus has all the physicality of his father, but decided to use those skills in pursuit of scoring goals, as opposed to preventing them.
With the way Barcelona pressed, the ball was constantly getting lobbed over the top to the Frenchman and he consistently made himself a nuisance, either keeping possession of the ball for his team or hounding the opposition player that had taken possession of it.
Martinez, having only been declared fit to play at lunchtime, was less busy, considering the heavy strapping to his left hamstring that was clearly enabling him to be on the pitch.
Evidently, he was not 100%, but the Argentine captain, who makes a good case for being the clubs best ever player with 151 goals over seven seasons, still got himself in multiple scoring positions and opened the scoring in the second leg with a tap-in, courtesy of Dumfries making the correct decision to make the extra pass.
With Gabriel out for Arsenal and PSG notoriously shaky in Europe, the two strikers could have a field day at the Allianz for the final.
Defensively resilient?
Across the first eleven games of this Champions League campaign, Inter conceded just three goals. One each against Bayer Leverkusen, Feyenoord and Bayern Munich, showcasing their defensive aptitude.
However, in just three games; the second leg of the quarter final against Bayern and the two semi-final legs, they have conceded a worrying eight goals. Or maybe it is not that bad, considering they have scored nine.
With no recognised senior striker in the Arsenal squad, the Gunners will be looking to Bukayo Saka, recently back from injury for goals.
PSG on the other hand have scored the third most league goals across the top five European leagues so far this season, only behind Barcelona and Bayern Munich, with a rejuvenated Ousmane Dembele leading the line.
Of the past six Champions League finals, four have ended 1-0, while the other two have ended 2-0, so surely the hope for neutral fans is that the final might be half as entertaining as this semi was.
