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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.