What We Learned from Barcelona 3-3 Inter: Three Major Talking Points

Football fans were treated to an unforgettable night at the Camp Nou as Barcelona and Inter Milan delivered a six-goal spectacle in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final. The game finished 3-3 in a pulsating contest filled with drama, individual brilliance, and defensive lapses. Though Barcelona had hoped for a victory at home, the quality and entertainment on display from both sides made this a match to remember.

The spotlight shone brightest on Barcelona’s 17-year-old prodigy, Lamine Yamal. Despite his youth, Yamal made his 100th appearance for the Blaugrana—a remarkable milestone considering he debuted just over two years ago. His performance was nothing short of sensational, inspiring a comeback after a nightmare start for the Catalan side.

Inter Milan stunned the hosts early, taking the lead within the opening minute. Marcus Thuram finished off a swift move with an audacious backheel, capitalizing on Barcelona’s high defensive line. Minutes later, Inter doubled their lead, leaving the Camp Nou crowd in shock. Barcelona’s dreams of a place in the final seemed to be fading fast, but Yamal had other plans.

With composure beyond his years, the teenager pulled one back with a beautifully taken goal, igniting the crowd and his teammates. From that moment, he became the driving force of Barcelona’s attack. He nearly completed a hat-trick, but was twice denied by the woodwork. His constant threat forced Inter coach Simone Inzaghi to dedicate three defenders to mark him—a rare occurrence for any player, let alone one so young.

Manager Hansi Flick was full of praise for the youngster after the match. “Lamine showed us the way,” he said, acknowledging the crucial role Yamal played in sparking the fightback. Even global stars like Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé took notice—Haaland posted admiration on social media, while Yamal surpassed a Champions League record previously held by Mbappé.

Yet Yamal himself remained grounded, calmly stating after the game, “I just try to enjoy myself. I haven’t done anything yet; there’s still so much more I want to achieve.”

Despite the entertaining draw, there were clear signs of concern for Barcelona—especially on set pieces. Flick had warned his players about Inter’s danger from dead-ball situations before the match. Unfortunately for the Spanish side, those warnings went unheeded. Two of Inter’s goals came directly from corners, both delivered perfectly by Hakan Calhanoglu and finished by Denzel Dumfries—one a sharp volley, the other a powerful header.

“They are one of Europe’s best from set pieces,” Flick lamented post-match. “Their physicality gives them an edge, but we must defend better.” The statistics back up his concern: Inter’s starting lineup was, on average, 1.5 cm taller than Barcelona’s, and they’ve now scored 14 goals from corners this season.

Barcelona’s defensive woes were made worse with the injury to Jules Koundé in the first half. The Frenchman is now likely to miss the return leg in Milan and could also sit out the upcoming Clasico in La Liga. His absence adds to an already strained defense that struggled throughout the night.

Flick will be forced to reshuffle his back line for the second leg. Ronald Araújo is expected to start, and there is cautious optimism that Alejandro Balde could return from injury. Andreas Christensen, who made his comeback off the bench, may feature more prominently, while Eric Garcia could also come into contention. Further changes could happen up front, with Dani Olmo’s place potentially under threat.

As the tie heads to the San Siro, Inter carry a slight advantage with three away goals. But with Lamine Yamal in this kind of form, Barcelona will believe they still have every chance of making the final.