The nights of collapse for Barça have a new European stage, Milan, but it will be nothing like any other shipwreck. This time it was a cruel and at times unfair punishment for the youthful and daring team that Hansi Flick has assembled. They encountered their first major obstacle and fought with conviction throughout the tie, fearless, guided by a Lamine Yamal chasing a dream that was snatched away by Inter just when they were immersed in a state of sustained happiness. The brief outbursts that had fueled the last decade, where Barça failed to create memories and European moments, seemed to be a thing of the past. Sometimes due to shortcomings, other times due to lack of luck. Just when it seemed like this team, led by a young player and under the guidance of Pedri, had it all, the Italians first capitalized on mistakes, then outlasted them, and ultimately resisted to quash the fierce joy of this generation of Barça players in an epic tie.
Barça found themselves needing to digest a match they took time to interpret, had in their hands, and saw slip away. They couldn't unsettle an opponent who relied on experience, the same experience that made Dimarco try to intimidate Lamine with little tricks. Nothing that could be penalized by Marciniak, but enough to frustrate. Still, Rocafonda's player held firm to support a Barça that relied solely on him to intimidate, without being able to showcase his talent.
In the early minutes, both teams sought to harm each other on the flanks. If Lamine was playful, Dumfries was always ready to tease Gerard Martín. The Giuseppe Meazza stadium ignited the match when Inter strung together three consecutive corners and injected a bit of madness. Olmo hesitated in the build-up, and Dimarco seized the opportunity to steal the ball, find Dumfries, who then assisted Lautaro Martínez to open the scoring. The Argentine had rushed to make it to the duel and was decisive for many minutes.
The lead painted the scenario that Inzaghi's team desired. Without the need to take risks, they handed control to the Blaugrana, who were too imprecise against Sommer. Neither Ferran nor Lamine, in partnership with a solid Éric García playing as a full-back, made the right choices, and Olmo and Raphinha were nowhere to be found.
Inter only needed to stretch on the counter, seeking to unsettle in any clearance, like the volley attempted by Mkhitaryan or the left-footed strike by Çalhanoglu. Barça held on with that minimal disadvantage when Cubarsí threw himself at Lautaro's feet, stopping his one-on-one with Szczesny. The penalty was played and VAR caught it. The Argentine, at half pace, had scored a goal and set up Çalhanoglu for the second from the penalty spot just before halftime. The 2-0 was a blow that Flick would have to try to rectify in the dressing room.
Only a skillful offside trap saved them from conceding a third goal, and the German didn't even need to make substitutions because the unexpected hero was on the field. Lamine, Pedri, and Raphinha were activated, but it was Gerard Martín who delivered a cross that Eric García connected with to send into the top corner. That goal reminded everyone that there is no despair when a final is at stake. The makeshift full-back had the equalizer in a textbook counter with Gerard and Pedri, but his shot was read by Sommer, who reacted quickly.
Swiss goalkeeper couldn't do anything with another cross from the left for Dani Olmo's header. Barça had come back to life, and Inter was trembling. So much so that when VAR turned Mkhitaryan's challenge on Lamine, initially seen as a penalty by Marciniak, into a foul just outside the box, the entire stadium breathed a sigh of relief.
Barça's superiority was overwhelming, and, as expected, Lamine had the opportunity to break the tie with a powerful shot from outside the box that Sommer saved with a dive. Then Raphinha stepped up. He needed to try with his left foot, which Sommer saved, and then he adjusted a right-footed shot to the base of the post to set course for Munich. Nothing seemed to be able to stop this Barça, and even Lamine hit the post with the fourth goal. However, Inter revived to spoil the Blaugrana's celebration. Dumfries outmuscled Gerard and delivered a cross that Acerbi converted into the equalizer, forcing extra time.
With the match in chaos, mistakes were much costlier in extra time. Araújo letting Thuram slip past him on the edge of the box to assist Frattesi was decisive. Once again, Barça was eliminated. Under the intense rain in Milan, Lamine's goal was missing, and despite his relentless efforts, it never materialized.