Barcelona and Inter Milan served up a six-goal spectacle in their Champions League semifinal first leg, a match that will be remembered for the electrifying performance of 17-year-old Lamine Yamal. The young Barcelona phenom scored a stunning solo goal, adding to his already impressive 15 goals this season, and left Inter’s coach Simone Inzaghi utterly speechless.
Inter started brightly, taking a shock 2-0 lead within the first 21 minutes thanks to goals from Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfries. However, Yamal’s brilliance ignited a Barcelona comeback. His mesmerizing run and finish leveled the score, before further goals from Dumfries (his second) and an own goal by Yann Sommer left the tie tantalizingly poised at 3-3.
Inzaghi, clearly impressed, heaped praise on the teenage sensation, stating in his post-match press conference that Yamal is “a phenomenon born every 50 years.” He highlighted the difficulties Inter faced in trying to contain the young winger, noting they had to double-team him to minimize his impact. Yamal’s performance was even more remarkable considering he had felt some muscle pain during warmups and there were doubts about his availability.
Barcelona’s coach, Hansi Flick, echoed Inzaghi’s sentiments, calling Yamal a “genius” and emphasizing his ability to perform under pressure in high-stakes games. Flick also acknowledged Inter’s strength, particularly their prowess from set pieces, which led to two of their goals.
The match wasn’t without its injury concerns. Barcelona lost Jules Koundé in the first half, while Inter’s captain, Lautaro Martínez, was forced off at halftime with an injury, leaving his participation in the second leg uncertain. Despite the setbacks, both managers expressed confidence in their teams’ ability to compete in the return leg at the San Siro.
The thrilling encounter leaves the tie perfectly balanced, setting the stage for a captivating second leg. The winner will advance to the Champions League final in Munich, where they’ll face either Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal. One thing is certain: Lamine Yamal has announced himself on the world stage, and the footballing world is already buzzing about the future of this exceptional talent.
