The Greatest Semi-Final Ever?

Following a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Camp Nou last week Inter Milan looked forward to the advantage of having the second leg in the imposing San Siro.

In a game which ebbed and flowed Internazionale had the better of the chances and capitalised on the twenty-first minute with a well worked goal from Martinez, who ran and harried tirelessly for the seventy-one minutes he was on the pitch. From here it felt like Inter had the upper hand and they sought to press it.

This they managed to do in injury time a the end of the first-half. The referee waved away calls for a penalty but a VAR review showed the defender failed to touch the ball in making his crucial tackle. When the referee was called pitch-side to inspect the video evidence excitement in the crowd reached fever pitch and the release when Çalhanoğlu slotted the penalty home was raucous.

Still, they'd held a 2-0 lead in the first leg, and only managed to leave the Nou Camp with a draw. Surely, history would not repeat itself so soon.

What Hansi Flick said to his team at half-time will be be included in a list of inspirational speaches. The Barca team who appeared after the break were different to the one who played before. Now they bossed the game and fifteen minutes into the half a Garcia volley and Olmo header had brought the tie level again.

Last week Inter retook the lead this time Barca scored next and, for the first time in the semi-final, fond themselves leading the tie. Rapinha's 87th minute goal was surely going to be enough to send the Spanish club to the final for the first time since they last won it in 2015.

Instead, Acerbi's equaliser in the third minute of extra-time took the game to an exttra half-hour and the Barca of the second half was replaced by the one from the first. Having dominated for forty-five minutes the late equaliser appeared to puncture their confidence and Inter were, again, the team on top.

They capitalised and after nine minutes of the first half of extra time retook the lead.

This time they held on, though both Lewandowski and Yamal had chances to tie the game up again.

The thirteen goals the teams scored between them over the two matches makes it the joint highest scoring game but beyond the number of goals the nature of the tie is what will last in the memories of those who watched or listened.

This tie ebbed and flowed as the teams took turns at being dominant. Though he failed to score, being denied by both the woodwork and some fine goalkeeping, Yamal again showed why he is the hottest of hot properties.

It may be that this new iteration of the Champions League has just had the game of the tournament. PSG v Arsenal or the final will have to go some way to match it

text by stuartcturnbull, picture from Getty Images