Stunning goals and incredible drama – Barca & Inter deliver match for the ages

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A match happens once every few minutes and will stick in the memory for a while long after the break.

A treat and a football feast. In the opening game of their Champions League semi-final, Barcelona and Inter Milan drew with a thrilling 3-3 draw.

Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock described the battle as “an amazing battle that almost seemed to take place in a boxing match.”

“Barca and Inter were set up very differently, and it turned out to be a really fun game.”

Ally McCoist, a former Rangers striker, described tonight as “just special, special to be here watching those two teams.”

This evening, some unbelievable football has been played.

stunning Inter Inter quickfire double

Barcelona was the subject of a lot of conversation during the build-up to this game.

Their risky high line, ability to score a lot of goals with a strong front three, and prospects for a future generation of elite players from their prestigious La Masia academy.

Everything changed after the first leg at the Nou Camp, which lasted 30 seconds.

The home crowd was stunned when Marcus Thuram’s deft backheel finish was the fastest goal ever scored in a Champions League semifinal.

However, Inter knew one goal would not suffice against a team capable of scoring numerous goals, so they did, and Denzel Dumfries’ remarkable overhead kick, which came on 21 minutes later, set the tone for the home team once more.

A Barcelona side’s first-ever Champions League title challenge was not in the script for the team’s attempt to reach it for the first time in ten years.

Everyone believed that once Inter won a 2-0 lead, they would shut down, and we wouldn’t see much more than another outstanding defensive effort, said Warnock.

The Serie A side were able to capitalize on Inter’s recent Champions League performance, which saw them concede just five goals. Barcelona’s high-line tactics exposed their own defensive weaknesses.

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Yamal inspires an “electric” comeback.

Barcelona needed an immediate resurgence after trailing by two after 21 minutes.

Enter Lamine Yamal.

It took the teenager, who was making his 100th club appearance, just three minutes to stand up for his team and create magic to re-engage them.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan was left in his wake when Yamal slammed into the penalty box with a majestic left-footed finish that ricocheted off the post and into the net to start the comeback.

It was easy to overlook Yamal’s age when “Giving the Ball to Yamal” became a clear strategy for Barcelona. He quickly took control of the game, pinging balls into the area, and making himself available in forward positions all the time.

After Raphinha nodded on Pedri’s diagonal cross, Ferran Torres scored the equalizer at close range in the 38th minute.

After what had been a mesmerizing opening 45 minutes, the anticipation was high when parity was restored just in time for the break.

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Inter take the lead over “vulnerable” Barca

Expectations were high for a similarly entertaining second half as both fans and neutrals were on the edge of their seats after this gripping encounter.

After scoring three stunning goals that would have guaranteed a Champions League title for any team, Inter’s goal, which was a straightforward corner routine, almost gave off a sense of disappointment.

Dumfries’ highest rise met Hakan Calhanoglu’s corner at the back post, highlighting Barca’s defensive struggles.

Inter aren’t the most dynamic team, and they lack the most dynamic pace, but there was still a way for them to hurt Barca, Warnock claimed.

They have a lot of experience in their team, which is why they are the oldest in the Champions League, and they showed that tonight by being clever enough to keep opening up Barca.

In a high-drama scenario, Inter chose the seventh-old starting XI for a Champions League semi-final match, which was 30 years and 56 days old.

The impression is that Barcelona should have been able to produce a better result, Barcelona forward Raphinha told Movistar Plus.

We can’t deny that many goals, especially at home. Yes, you must commend our opponents who are strong and played well tonight, but we are Barca, and winning at home is our responsibility.

Inter, who have lost three consecutive games to city rivals AC Milan and dropped second in Serie A, were determined to keep the lead.

“Barca were prepared to attack and take the game to Inter, but their high-line left them vulnerable at the back,” Warnock said.

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The “amazing battle” is concluded by an equalizer from Barcelona.

Sometimes all you need is someone to take a chance when you have three goals at home and have a chance to travel to the San Siro.

Raphinha tapped the ball 25 yards out, hamming it into the back of the net with a touch off the bar, and sending goalkeeper Yann Sommer’s back.

Before Raphinha’s equalizer brought Barcelona level for the second time in the match, Inter had led for all 114 seconds.

Raphinha has been the main focus for Barca throughout the campaign, despite the fact that Yamal may have been the star of the show on Wednesday. Although the Brazilian’s performance has not been given credit, his success has been largely attributed to him.

Hansi Flick, the Barcelona manager, said, “I really appreciate what we did today.

Mkhitaryan poked home in the 75th minute after realizing he had found a fourth goal, but the video assistant referee decided against it due to an agonizingly tight offside.

The first leg of a Champions League semi-final game was 3-3 draw between Dynamo Kyiv and Bayern Munich, which was the joint-highest score draw in the same match without that.

The visitors will feel confident that they were able to match Barca’s three goals on a thrilling night of football, with the result of a mouthwatering second leg in Milan the following week.

We saw the real Inter tonight, according to Inter goalscorer Dumfries, who had lost three in a row.

Watch highlights of every Champions League game on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport, and the BBC Sport website and app from 12:00 to eve of the match.

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The WSL invincibles? Chelsea eye records after sealing another title

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Chelsea plays against themselves just like any other team in the Women’s Super League.

The Blues won their sixth consecutive WSL title on Wednesday night with a score of 1-0 at Manchester United, their first under new manager Sonia Bompastor.

Handshakes and hugs, rather than tears of joy, may have contributed to the somewhat muted celebrations at full-time.

The Champions League is another area where Chelsea continue to look for the holy grail.

Three days after Barcelona’s third consecutive season of failing to win a first European title, the Blues were awarded this title, and Barcelona won 8-2 overall, more comprehensively than ever.

How can Chelsea make sure this title win stands out among the others and that this season, which could result in a domestic treble of the WSL, League Cup, and FA Cup, is not somehow viewed as a disappointment?

After scoring the winner at Leigh Sports Village, Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze said, “We wanted to be unbeaten.”

“We have a good feeling about our season because we are unbeaten this year, so we knew there were still two things to play for.” Before the game, we were aware of Arsenal’s weaknesses and what we needed, but we also vowed to keep the league title in tact all season long.

I’m never satisfied, I say.

Only three previous unbeaten teams have won the WSL, including Chelsea themselves in 2018, Manchester City in 2016, and Arsenal in 2012, respectively.

Over the current 22-game season format, however, it has never been done. Chelsea will have opened new ground if they avoid losing to Tottenham on Sunday, May 10th, when they travel to Liverpool.

Bompastor will have to deal with the repercussions of such a subpar Champions League exit, but he can still claim the most comprehensive WSL title in history.

Sonia Bompastor Images courtesy of Getty

At Leigh Sports Village, Ambassador Bertpastrelli stated at the post-game press conference, “I always look for perfection and the ideal.”

I want to keep a clean sheet because I told my players defensively and out of position. I want to compete with one another. We discussed how to manage the depth, how to be compact, how to win the duels, and how to win the second balls. All of these details are included.

“I never feel satisfied,” he said. I’m already focused on the treble and the other finals even after winning.

Since Laura Harvey took Arsenal to the top of the inaugural league in 2011, Bompastor has become the first manager to win the WSL title in their first season.

What constitutes “dreams”?

Everyone at Chelsea anticipates that you will win the league, she said. The competition is higher here than it was in Lyon, he says. It’s difficult to do it in my first season to be able to do it for Chelsea for six consecutive years.

It’s “too easy for Chelsea,” I heard, but it’s not! I don’t understand how people can believe that when you can go two ways and still be unbeaten, defeating Manchester City, Arsenal, and Manchester United. It is incredible.

Don’t believe it to be simple. Never easy, ever. It’s a great accomplishment and a lot of daily tasks. My players are not allowed to breathe.

“I want to thank Emma [Hayes],” she said. She must be delighted to receive our title tonight, I assure her. She left the club with a fantastic location to expand on what she had accomplished.

Chelsea hasn’t always let down rival teams this campaign; they have scored fewer goals than second-placed Arsenal, and no other player has ever recorded double figures.

Their league campaign was capped on Wednesday night. Before half-time, when Millie Bright appeared to trip Grace Clinton, United had more shots, a higher xG, and a very strong shout for a penalty. Hannah Hampton, the player of the match, made five saves for Chelsea.

However, they discover a way to triumph and triumph. Importantly, avoid losing.

“I always wanted to win trophies when I first joined this club,” Hampton told the BBC. It is amazing that we have won the title twice in the two seasons I’ve been here. It never gets old. It’ll never get old as long as we keep winning.

Chelsea currently has three games left before the FA Cup final against Manchester United on May 18 and two league games before that.

It would be a remarkable accomplishment to leave it unbeaten domestically.

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South Africa to hold inquiry on alleged hampering of apartheid prosecutions

In a move that survivors and their families had long demanded, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered an investigation to determine whether previous governments led by his party intentionally stifled investigations and prosecutions of apartheid-era crimes.

Ramaphosa’s office said in a statement on Wednesday that the landmark decision will address allegations of “improper influence in delaying or hindering” investigations involving post-apartheid governments led by the African National Congress (ANC) party.

The families of victims have fought for so long for justice, according to Ramaphosa’s office, and “President Ramaphosa understands the agony and frustration of the victims’ families.”

Following 25 survivors and relatives of victims of apartheid-era crimes filing a lawsuit in court in January, the president announced the creation of a judicial commission of inquiry.

In spite of the recommendations made by the post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission, successive South African governments have failed to properly investigate unresolved killings, disappearances, and other crimes committed during the era of forced racial segregation.

Nelson Mandela, the commission’s former president, and Desmond Tutu, a fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner, presided over the establishment of the commission in 1996.

Its goals included exposing and documenting apartheid-era crimes, as well as allowing some of the perpetrators to confess their crimes, including those who worked for the apartheid government and were key players in numerous killings.

When apartheid ended in 1994, the ANC spearheaded the struggle against the system of white minority rule in South Africa. However, some have criticized ANC-led governments since then for putting national reconciliation before victims’ rights.

The Cradock Four, a group of Black anti-apartheid activists who were kidnapped and murdered by security forces in 1985, is one of the most well-known unresolved cases. Security personnel were allegedly torturing them after their bodies were burned.

The killings have never been fully investigated, and no one has been charged with a crime. These crimes count among the countless ones committed during apartheid and where victims and their families continue to be denied justice.

Lukhanyo Calata, whose father Fort was a member of the Cradock Four, is a member of the group that sued the country’s current government in January.

At the start of the case, Calata claimed that successive South African governments, including those under President Thabo Mbeki’s rule from 1999 to 2008, had ignored the commission’s recommendations and denied victims and their families justice.

JoJo Siwa fans spot ‘ring from Chris Hughes’ on CBB star in latest post

As their close bond continues outside of Celebrity Big Brother, JoJo Siwa fans have discovered a very personal item that appears to be from Chris Hughes in her most recent post.

Chris Hughes, JoJo Siwa
JoJo Siwa fans think she has a ring from Chris Hughes(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

JoJo Siwa appears to have taken a sweet memento from Chris Hughes back to the US with her. The Dance Moms star, 21, struck up a very close bond with Love Island’s Chris, 32, while in the Celebrity Big Brother house.

They both made it to the final together, with intense speculation as to whether their friendship is truly platonic overshadowing most of the show. Both JoJo and Chris have insisted they are just friends despite their touchiness in the house. JoJo also shocked fans when she split from her partner Kath Ebbs at the show’s wrap party. She made sure to spend time with Chris right up until she needed to board her plane back to Los Angeles earlier this week.

JoJo was seen wearing a ring on her silver necklace (Image: Instagram/itsjojosiwa)

Chris invited her to play a game of tennis and also meet up with some of his pals. However, it seems he gifted her one very personal item to take back home with her as a reminder of their time together.

JoJo shared a video of herself going for a morning walk while discussing the things she’s already missed in the UK. Some fans were distracted by her jewelry, though she even teased a return very soon.

One fan noticed her silver chain necklace’s ring, which had been attached to it. They discovered a photo of Chris sporting a similar ring that might give him an indication.

Continue reading the article.

They said: “Ok, I might possibly be delusional lol but the ring that JoJo has attached to her necklace in the video on her Instagram page today looks SO SO similar to the ring Chris usually wears!! Could he have given her his ring?!”

As one commentator said, “Well spotted, I think you are onto something there,” others concurred. Another remarked, “Omg, you’re right. Someone else wrote: “Oh 100%”.

Fans assume Chris is now wearing her bracelet, so JoJo may have left a parting gift for him as well.

JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes
Fans think it is Chris’ ring that he was wearing on This Morning(Image: ITV)

JoJo has confirmed that her decision to split with partner Kath was not at all related to fellow housemate Chris, who many fans suspected may have played a part.

Kath had liked a comment online suggesting they watched their partner “fall in love with someone else in real time”. But JoJo shut that theory down.

On the podcast episode of The Viall Files, Chris said, “Chris does not have absolutely nothing to do with it.” Chris and I have a friendship. Our friendship is fantastic. It’s very strange, like, “You were meant to be in my life.” Our relationship is very special.

JoJo also explained that, out of respect for Kath, she’s choosing not to share certain details regarding their split.

She said, “They have requested that nothing be discussed.” I said to them, “Look, that’s going to make me look like I’m avoidant of the situation — I’m not.”

Continue reading the article.

However, she did say that seeing Kath again reinforced her decision to end the relationship. Everything I had been feeling quickly came to a standstill when I saw them again after the show,” she said.

READ MORE: Award-winning teeth whitening powder that makes ‘huge difference’ to tea stains is now £17

‘A talent that comes along every 50 years’ – ‘genius’ Yamal steals show

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Lamine Yamal, a 17-year-old Lionel Messi, said he would not compare himself to him, and he did so in one of the Champions League’s greatest semi-finals.

He was later referred to as “a genius,” “a cheat code,” and “a phenomenal talent.”

In their epic first-leg encounter, Barca and Inter Milan ended up drawing 3-3 with visiting full-back Denzel Dumfries scoring twice and winning the match’s MVP.

Yamal, 17, who scored his 22nd goal in his eminently 100th Barcelona game, will make the most of the world’s attention.

After Inter had led 2-0 in the 21st minute, he performed a masterclass, especially in the first half, which gave him a fantastic comeback.

In the Euro 2024 final four last summer, Yamal won with a stylish Champions League semi-final goal to go with one. One of the best players in the world, unquestionably, before turning 18

“I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a 45-minute clip from a single person before in my life.” As the players left the pitch at half-time, Ally McCoist, a TNT Sports pundit, said, “It is unbelievable.”

Following that, Simone Inzaghi, Inter Milan’s manager, praised Yamal the most.

He said, “Seeing him up close is the kind of talent that comes along every 50 years.”

He caused us a lot of trouble because we had to give in to his needs and that wasn’t enough.

He is unique, genius, according to Barca boss Hansi Flick. He appears in big matches.

I’m glad it’s for Barcelona, Simone said, “If it only comes every 50 years.”

He was described as a potential Ballon d’Or winner by BBC journalist Stephen Warnock.

How did Yamal act?

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Before the game, Yamal appeared to hurt his groin and traveled down the tunnel during the warm-up, with rumors that he might not play.

Before Inter led 2-0 thanks to Marcus Thuram’s 30-second backheel flick from a Dumfries cross and Dutchman Dumfries’ flying close-range volley, he did start but he hardly had an impact.

But then Yamal, who was being double-marked, came to life, beating a few Inter players before delivering the ball with astonishing ease and confidence.

Moments later, he beat more defenders on the byeline and fired a shot past Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer, which was a penalty.

After the break, Ferran Torres’ excellent teamwork brought Barca level before the break.

Dumfries’ header, however, gave the Italian side a second lead before Dumfries’ header.

However, as a result of Yamal’s deft dumming of a pass, Raphinha lashed in from 25 yards, which hit the bar, and went in off Sommer’s for an own goal, just as Barca was level again.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan thought he had made it 4-3 to Inter, but a slight offside prevented him from scoring.

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The records are still falling.

How much Yamal has accomplished in his younger years is beyond comprehension.

His 100th goal for Spain came in this, his 22nd overall, and his 100th goal in that club.

Yamal also contributed 27 assists, including two in Real Madrid’s extra-time Copa del Rey victory on Saturday.

Messi and Ronaldo, the two greatest players of this generation, did not make their international debuts until the age of 18, while Yamal won Euro 2024 the following year.

Before turning 18, Messi scored five goals, with Ronaldo scoring five.

Yamal is the youngest La Liga player at Barcelona (15 years old) and the youngest player to score and contribute for any team.

Additionally, he holds records for the youngest Champions League starter, youngest player to score in a knockout game, quarter-final, and semi-final.

Yamal struggles to avoid Messi comparisons.

By Yamal’s age, very few players have had the same kind of impact in the game. In July, he will turn 18 years old.

He appears to be the greatest footballer in history, having played for Inter Miami before him and being the closest thing to Barcelona and Argentina great Messi.

Both players play on the right wing and both graduated from Barca Academy, La Masia.

In the run-up to the game, Yamal told reporters, “I don’t compare myself to him, because I don’t compare myself to anyone,” while also praising the Argentine as “the best player in history,” “I don’t compare myself to anyone, because I don’t compare myself to anyone.”

However, Messi was only very young and promising, compared to Messi’s reputation as one of the best in the world at the age of 17.

Yamal continued, “I don’t think the comparison makes sense, with Messi even less. I’m going to enjoy myself and be myself.”

However, he shares an unusual relationship with Messi, who he first encountered when he was a child.

A photo was taken during the 2007 Nou Camp photo shoot for the Barcelona charity calendar.

Yamal was a 20-year-old Messi who helped him take a bath in the movie. Really, I guess.

Lamine’s family lived in Mataro, where Unicef held a raffle for money.

Rio Ferdinand, an ex-England defender, said, “We walked down to the city center and you could tell there is a superstar in this town right now, in Lamine Yamal.”

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Everyone else should leave the situation, they say.

The footage from Yamal captivated the audience.

Former Bayern Munich, Manchester United, and England international Owen Hargreaves called him a “cheat code” on TNT.

I just want to see Lamine Yamal score the ball, he continued, “and everyone else gets out of the way.”

Watching BBC’s Champions League Match of the Day, former Liverpool and England defender Warnock remarked, “He was unplayable at times. His aim was outrageous.

“Watching Yamal is ridiculous. You are aware of what he consistently wants to do: enter with his left foot. You overcompensate, and he can actually put a decent ball in with his right foot, and he can drag it with his left foot as well.

I adore watching him because he has a phenomenal talent.

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Watch highlights of every Champions League game on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport, and the BBC Sport website and app from 12:00 to eve of the match.

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