Barcelona unleashed a footballing storm at the Camp Nou last night, April 30, 2025, their attack a relentless tide of flair and fury. But in a heart-stopping Champions League semifinal first leg, Inter Milan weathered the onslaught, clawing their way to a 3-3 draw that hands them a slight advantage heading into the return leg. The Blaugrana’s dazzling display, full of audacious runs and pinpoint passes, wasn’t enough to break Inter’s steely resolve, leaving the tie delicately poised.
From the opening whistle, Inter struck first, their clinical edge slicing through Barcelona’s high press. Marcus Thuram latched onto a threaded pass in the early exchanges, slotting home to make it 0-1. The Camp Nou crowd, a sea of red and blue, fell silent, but only for a moment. Barcelona roared back, their teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal weaving through defenders like a street footballer before rifling in a low drive to level the score at 1-1. The stadium erupted, the noise a living thing, pulsing through the stands.
Inter, though, refused to buckle. Denzel Dumfries rose above a crowded box to nod in a second for the Italians, restoring their lead at 1-2. Barcelona’s response was immediate, ferocious. Ferran Torres, a man possessed, latched onto a lofted ball, his first-time volley screaming past Inter’s keeper to make it 2-2 before the break. The game was a prizefight, each side landing haymakers, neither willing to blink.
The second half brought more chaos. Dumfries struck again for Inter, his header from a set-piece exposing a rare lapse in Barcelona’s backline, putting the visitors ahead 2-3. With the clock ticking, Barcelona threw everything forward. Raphinha, the Brazilian dynamo, delivered the equalizer in the dying minutes, his curling shot from the edge of the box sparking pandemonium. The 3-3 scoreline felt like a victory for Inter, who escaped with three away goals, a dagger in Barcelona’s hopes.
Barcelona dominated possession, their 68% control a testament to their relentless probing. They fired off 22 shots, 8 on target, while Inter managed just 10 attempts, 5 testing the keeper. The home side’s passing accuracy hit 89%, a stat that tells the story of their fluid, attacking rhythm. Inter, by contrast, leaned on grit, their 42% possession enough to carve out three clinical finishes.
The second leg looms on May 7 in Milan, where Inter’s home fortress awaits. Barcelona, for all their brilliance, must now chase the tie on enemy turf, where a single goal could tilt the scales. The Camp Nou faithful left buzzing with pride but haunted by what might have been.