Inter Milan has secured their place in the Champions League final for the second time in three seasons, following a thrilling extra-time victory over Barcelona, triumphing 4-3 on the night and 7-6 on aggregate. The dramatic win, celebrated at the San Siro in front of their home supporters, featured numerous memorable moments, but it was midfielder Davide Frattesi who delivered a truly unforgettable finish with his unconventional strike in the 99th minute.
The decisive play unfolded when Marcus Thuram passed the ball to forward Mehdi Taremi, who selflessly laid it off to Frattesi. Frattesi showed remarkable presence of mind, faking a shot before calmly placing the ball past Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to give Inter the lead. This critical goal was surprisingly only Frattesi`s seventh of the season and his first in eight appearances for Inter across all competitions. It echoed another significant goal he scored earlier in the tournament – an 88th-minute winner in the first leg of Inter`s tightly contested quarterfinal against Bayern Munich, a tie they ultimately won 4-3 on aggregate.
When questioned by CBS Sports after the match about his composure during such a high-stakes scoring opportunity, Frattesi offered a candid and simple response.
“I don`t know, maybe I was thinking that if I don`t score, I`m f—ed,” Frattesi admitted.
Being presented with a clear chance on goal in a crucial moment can intensely narrow a player`s focus. However, the Inter midfielder effectively channeled that pressure into a composed and effective finish that has now propelled his team towards the Champions League final on May 31. While the ultimate goal of winning the final remains, along with challenging Napoli in their final three Serie A matches for the Scudetto title, having players like Frattesi capable of stepping up and making game-changing plays demonstrates that anything is within reach for Inter.
