Davide Frattesi’s goal seals final for Inter against Barcelona

By Sunday Osunkwo

Report as Inter Milan reach the Champions League final for the second time in three years; Davide Frattesi scored the winning goal against Barcelona; Francesco Acerbi’s late equaliser sent the game into extra-time; Inter Milan will face either PSG or Arsenal in Munich on May 31

Davide Frattesi’s extra-time goal decided a Champions League semi-final for the ages as Inter Milan beat Barcelona 7-6 on aggregate after a 4-3 second leg win at the San Siro.
The midfielder slotted home in the first half of the extra 30 minutes, climbing on top of the metal barriers to celebrate with the jubilant – and relieved – home fans and capping of an incredible European meeting that will go down in history.

It was a tie that drew level as the highest scoring semi-final – equal to Liverpool and Roma’s own 7-6 thriller in 2018 – and entertained again after a 3-3 draw at the Estadio Olimpico de Montjuic last week.

The second leg followed a similar pattern too. Inter took a 2-0 lead in an impressive first half, with Lautaro Martinez – who had been an injury doubt until late on Tuesday – finishing a fine team move.

Then came the first controversy of the evening. Pau Cubarsi was deemed to have touched the ball first while challenging Martinez in the box by referee Szymon Marciniak, who waved away any Inter penalty claims.

However, after a VAR review and the referee consulting the pitchside monitor, that decision was overturned and Inter were awarded the penalty, with Martinez judged to have touched the ball before the defender.