Simone Inzaghi (49), head coach of Inter Milan, praised his players.

Inter Milan won 4-3 against FC Barcelona in the second leg of the 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League semifinals held at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy, on the 7th (Korean time).

The confrontation between the two teams, which ended in a 3-3 draw in the first leg, concluded with Inter's aggregate score of 7-6 victory. As a result, Inter Milan advanced to the Champions League final.

Inter Milan lined up in a 3-5-2 formation. Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez formed the attacking combination, while Federico Dimarco, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Nicolo Barella, and Denzel Dumfries held the midfield. Alessandro Bastoni, Francesco Acerbi, and Jan Aurel Bisseck made up the back three, and the goal was defended by Jan Sommer.

Barcelona adopted a 4-2-3-1 formation. Ferran Torres aimed to score, while Raphinha, Dani Olmo, and Lamine Yamal supported the offense in the second line. Pedri and Frenkie de Jong filled the midfield, and Gerard Martin, Inigo Martinez, Pau Kiwarsky, and Eric Garcia set up the back four. Wojciech Szczesny donned the goalkeeper gloves.

In the early stages of the match, the flow was with Inter Milan. In the 21st minute of the first half, Lautaro Martinez calmly scored the opening goal after receiving a pass from Thuram. In the 43rd minute, Çalhanoğlu connected a penalty kick obtained after a video review (VAR), extending the score to 2-0.

Barcelona's counterattack was also formidable. In the 9th minute of the second half, Eric Garcia scored a brilliant goal, and in the 15th minute, Dani Olmo equalized with a header, turning the momentum around. In the 43rd minute of the second half, Raphinha's goal succeeded in overturning the score to 3-2, but in stoppage time, Inter's center-back Acerbi finished Dumfries' cross, creating a dramatic 3-3 equalizer.

The match headed into extra time. In the 8th minute of the first half of extra time, Frattesi received a pass from Thuram and scored the winning goal, while Barcelona launched a full-scale attack with Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Lopez, and Pau Victor, but they were thwarted by a superb save from Jan Sommer.

Ultimately, Inter Milan defeated Barcelona in a shootout after a fierce battle, advancing to the Champions League final for the first time in 15 years since the 2009-2010 season. The final showdown for the 'Big Ear' will be against the winner of the match between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain.

After the match, UEFA Champions League reported on Simone Inzaghi's comments. Inzaghi remarked, "First of all, I would like to congratulate Barcelona. They were a really strong team."

He noted, "Today, we needed a 'Super Inter.' I send applause to the players. They showed monstrous performances in both matches. I am proud to be their coach, and the players poured everything they had into the game. They deserve to enjoy this success in this stadium."

Inzaghi continued, "We also faced difficulties, but we overcame every obstacle with 'heart.' We tried to play according to our strengths, and after the first leg, we had a clear plan. However, this could not have been achieved without sacrifice and everyone’s commitment. I am truly grateful to the players who did so well. They deserve this final."

Inzaghi, who led Inter Milan to the final in 2023, said, "Today is truly an amazing night. It is a moment I want to share with the fans, the club, and my family. The players accomplished something extraordinary. They all performed excellently in four matches against world-class teams Bayern Munich and Barcelona. I am really happy to celebrate this achievement with the fans."

Regarding the decisive equalizer scored by defender Acerbi, he stated, "At the end of the game, Acerbi decided to join the attack. We had nothing more to lose, so we didn't stop him. He was excellent in defense, but tonight he provided us with a really important goal."

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