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A pulsating first leg of the Champions League semi-final between Barcelona and Inter has finished level.
The two teams will meet again at San Siro in a winner-takes-all second leg after they played out a brilliant 3-3 draw in Catalonia.
Inter got off to an electric start as Marcus Thuram scored the fastest goal in semi-final history with just 30 seconds on the clock before Denzel Dumfries doubled the lead 20 minutes later.
But Barca roared back into the contest and were level at half-time thanks to some Lamine Yamal brilliance and a well-worked goal finished off by Ferran Torres.
The hosts had to come from behind again when Dumfries scored his second of the game in the 64th minute. That lead lasted just a minute as Raphinha’s strike from range cannoned off the bar, onto Yann Sommer and into the net.
Despite late chances at either end, including a Henrikh Mkhitaryan goal immediately disallowed for offside, the match finished 3-3.
GO FURTHER
Barcelona 3 Inter 3: Breaking down Yamal magic, Inter’s fast start, Dumfries’ unlikely double
There were moments in the second half as Barcelona tried to force the issue in their home first leg, that you could see they were missing Robert Lewandowski.
Without making it too simplistic, usually it was someone missing to dispatch a tempting Lamine Yamal cross.
Barca have so much quality going forward that they can do anything from any point in a match and any position on the pitch.
But, they needed two brilliant moments to get level and were behind three times in this tie — twice replying to Inter goals within seconds of going behind.
As dangerous as they can be in attack, it will take more than that to come out on top in San Siro.
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A nice moment at full time for young Lamine Yamal on the pitch after full time, as he is presented with a shirt to commemorate his 100th appearance for Barcelona.
He made it special with a top performance tonight, showing off all the flair and freedom of expression that torments defenders when he is on the ball.
They didn’t get the result he would have wanted on a special night — but a draw in those circumstances is not bad either.
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Yeah, still Lamine Yamal! Inter are a stubborn, innovative opponent, horrible to play against and seemingly designed to counter Barcelona’s traditional strengths.
There’s a shout for Pedri, Yann Sommer, Denzel Dumfries… but as I said at half-time, Yamal’s play was sensational.
Out of this world. It’s just a shame he dropped off slightly in the second half, at least compared to the vertiginously high standards of the first 45.
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You know what, looking back across the entirety of the match, I’m going to reassess and say Lamine Yamal’s goal was the key moment.
Sure, Thuram’s 30-second strike was an early killer, Dumfries’ finish worthy of Cirque du Soleil, Barcelona’s second so aesthetically pleasing in its surgical incision, and Raphinha’s strike for Barca’s third a righteous rocket.
But Yamal started the comeback from two goals down, and was a real ‘I’m him’ moment. Facing his own goal, 30 yards out, chalk on his boots, a defender at his back, he knew it had to be then, and it had to be him.
He danced around his marker, a hip-swaying bachata past the statuesque Henrikh Mkhitaryan, his body playing to music only he could hear, his floaty finish sparking Montjuic into chorus.
What a brilliant night of football that was in Catalonia. For all the talk of spicing up the group stages, nothing should touch what we get when it comes to the latter knockout ties in the Champions League.
Thanks again for joining us for live coverage of the match, including a stellar job by Nancy Froston on calling the action.
Now make sure you stay put and keep this feed open and bookmarked, as we bring you all the reaction, analysis and fallout you need from a six-goal thriller — and it was only the first leg!
From some stunning Barcelona goals and Lamine Yamal’s unending talent, to the beautiful fluidity of Inter and Denzel Dumfries’ big night, we will have it all covered for you.
And that's all folks!
The referee looks at his watch and calls time on a thrilling 90 minutes of Champions League action. We end the night as we started it, with neither side holding an advantage ahead of next week's second leg — but we're all richer for having enjoyed a stellar match featuring six brilliant goals.
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Raphinha with incredible confidence in his shooting at the moment — understandably – that was another piledriver which Sommer did well to keep out. I make that eight saves from the Swiss keeper already.
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90' Barcelona 3-3 Inter
We've got a bit more time to enjoy this brilliant game. There are three minutes added on as Raphina tries another pile driver, tipped over the bar by Sommer for a corner.
Inter hack that one clear but Barca will come again…
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88' Barcelona 3-3 Inter
It's taking all of Inter's focus to stand up to wave after wave of Barcelona attack.
Hansi Flick's side are not content to go to San Siro next week with a draw — they want a winner tonight. Can Inter hold on?
87' Barcelona 3-3 Inter
That's the second time Lamine Yamal has been denied by the bar tonight. He's fed out wide by Gavi and manages an inspired scooped shot to get the ball out from under his feet and it rattled the outside of the frame of the goal.
Nearly another stunner for the youngster.
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83' Barcelona 3-3 Inter
It's hardly a surprise that both managers have looked for more energy from the bench after the intensity of this game.
Now Hansi Flick decides to roll the dice and brings Cubarsi off, Christensen on and Pedri off for Gavi.
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80' Barcelona 3-3 Inter
Dumfries is getting some love from the travelling fans and rightly so after two goals and an assist tonight. He's off in place of Darmian.
Thuram is also coming off, with Zielinski coming on.
With both of their goalscorers off, are Inter preparing to take a draw back to San Siro?
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This is the offside call for Henrikh Mkhitaryan's chalked-off goal… that's agonisingly close for Inter and an expert spot from the linesman.
78' Barcelona 3-3 Inter
You cannot turn away from this one for a second.
Raphina sends in a low free kick and Sommer is down to save — but you could easily see how that might have nestled in a corner.
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75' Barcelona 3-3 Inter
Inter catch Barca on the break — their high line causing problems yet again — as Dumfries sends in a lovely cross, turned in by Mkhitaryan.
But the offside flag is up and it must be a close one, upheld after a VAR check.
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72' Barcelona 3-3 Inter
Barcelona are camped in Inter's half and applying pressure but Marcus Thuram is a vital outlet for them.
He has twice stretched the Barca back line in the last few minutes and will be dangerous in one-on-one situations if he can get away from the last defender.
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70' Barcelona 3-3 Inter
Have Inter got it in them to fight for another goal?
They hope so, as Calhanoglu is replaced by Frattesi with 20 minutes of normal time left to play.
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Much more control from Inter in this second half, limiting Barca to a similar number and quality of chances to what they’ve managed themselves.
Which is why it took a sensational strike from Raphinha to cancel out Denzel Dumfries’ header barely seconds earlier. Harsh but fair that it will forever by known as a Sommer own goal.
As for Denzel Dumfries, although he has nine goal involvements in 26 Serie A games this season, his two goals and first-minute assist tonight were his first of the campaign in the Champions League.
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That’s a great strike by Raphinha, and a tremendous save by Sommer to fingertip it onto the bar, and then huge bad luck (for Inter) that it hits the keeper’s head and bounces back.
Sommer’s actually had a superb game tonight, but conceded three goals he could do nothing about.
