The final whistle blows. The San Siro erupts in a dissonance of noise, a raw, primal scream of disbelief, elation, and sheer, unadulterated triumph. On the pitch, players collapse – some in joyous piles, others in utter despair.
History has just been written, rewritten, and then perhaps rewritten again in the space of 120 minutes. Inter Milan, against all odds, against a relentless Barcelona side, have booked their ticket to the Champions League final in Munich, winning 7-6 on aggregate in a tie that will be printed into the sands of UCL times.
Amidst the euphoria and the heartache, a question hangs heavy in the air, already sparking fervent debate among pundits and fans alike: Is this the greatest Champions League semi-final of all time?
It’s a bold claim, especially given the rich drama, comeback, and genius that the competition’s penultimate stage has woven over the decades.
Yet, the sheer, mind-bending absurdity of the twists and turns witnessed over two legs between the Italian champions and the Catalan giants makes a compelling case.
The Tie That Defied Belief: Inter Milan 7-6 Barcelona (2025)
The first leg was a classic in its own right, a seven-goal thriller that saw momentum swing like a wild pendulum. Barcelona found themselves trailing 2-0 early on, then fought back to lead 2-2, only for Inter to reclaim control and take a 3-3 aggregate lead into the return leg at the San Siro.
Even that scoreline hinted at the attacking prowess and defensive fragility on display, promising a tense, high-stakes second act.
Nobody, however, could have predicted the sheer, sustained intensity and the sheer footballing madness that unfolded in Milan.
Barcelona, with their backs against the wall, clawed their way back after a 2-0 defeat in the first half. They applied relentless pressure, their intricate passing game slowly but surely dismantling Inter’s defence. Goal by goal, they chipped away at the deficit, demonstrating the resilience and attacking flair that has defined their history.
They recovered from being 5-3 down on aggregate to incredibly turn the tie around, leading 6-5 and seemingly heading for the final.
The San Siro, which moments earlier had been a cauldron of nervous energy, fell into stunned silence. The belief that had coursed through the Inter faithful began to ebb away, replaced by a dawning, horrible realization that their European dream was slipping through their fingers.
Time was running out. The scoreboard showed 3-2 to Barcelona on the night, 6-5 on aggregate.
Then came the moment that will be replayed for generations.
Deep into stoppage time, with just two minutes remaining before the final whistle would confirm Barcelona’s dramatic comeback victory, Inter pushed forward one last time. The ball found its way to Francesco Acerbi. At 37 years old, the veteran centre-back, a figure of experience and grit, surged forward, embodying the desperation and never-say-die spirit of his team.
A cross came in, maybe not the cleanest, but it found him in the box. With the clock ticking down, with hopes fading fast, Acerbi somehow managed to smash the ball into the roof of the net.
The stadium exploded.
It wasn’t just a goal; it was an exorcism of dread, a sudden, violent surge of hope that swept through the stands and onto the pitch. The aggregate score was level again, 6-6. Extra time awaited, a reprieve, a second chance granted in the most dramatic fashion imaginable.
The drama wasn’t over.
The emotional and physical toll of the 90 minutes was evident, yet both teams pushed on. And then, in the first period of extra time, came the decisive moment.
Substitute Davide Frattesi, a bundle of energy and attacking intent, received the ball on the edge of the box. With a deft touch and ice-cold composure that belied the monumental pressure of the moment, he curled a beautiful left-footed shot into the bottom corner.
The net rippled.
Silence for a split second, as if the world held its breath, followed by an explosion of noise that dwarfed the reaction to Acerbi’s goal.
It was the winning goal. Inter Milan led 7-6 on aggregate.
They just had to hold on. The final minutes were a blur of desperate Barcelona attacks and resolute Inter defending. When the actual final whistle blew after 120 grueling minutes, the relief and jubilation were almost overwhelming. Inter Milan had done it.
It was a tie that had everything: goals galore, stunning comebacks, individual brilliance, veteran heroics, and a winning goal in extra time after a last-gasp equaliser forced the additional period. The swings in momentum were dizzying, the tension unbearable. It certainly has all the ingredients for legendary status.
However, does it stand alone at the top?
To answer that question objectively (or as objectively as possible when discussing soccer passion), we must journey back through the rich history of the Champions League semi-finals and compare the 2025 epic to some of the other contenders for the crown of the “best ever.”
I have hand-picked nine other ties that live long in the memory, clashes that delivered unimaginable drama, breathtaking football, and moments that became instantly iconic.
Let’s revisit them.
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Other Memorable Semi-Final Showdowns
Real Madrid 6-5 Manchester City (2022)
Just a few years before the Inter-Barca epic, the Santiago Bernabéu was the stage for a comeback that seemed to defy logic and probability. The first leg at the Etihad was a thrilling exhibition of attacking football, with Pep Guardiola’s City ultimately taking a slender 4-3 lead to the Spanish capital.
The tie was finely balanced, but City had the advantage and the knowledge that an away goal would make Real’s task even harder.
At the Bernabéu, the tension was palpable. City seemed to be managing the game well, and when Riyad Mahrez struck to extend their aggregate lead, it felt like the dagger. Real Madrid, European specialists though they are, needed two goals just to force extra time with only minutes remaining in normal time. The dream seemed over for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
This is Real Madrid in the Champions League. This is the Bernabéu on a European night. And this was the moment for Rodrygo Goes. In an astonishing, almost unbelievable two-minute spell right at the death, the young Brazilian forward found the net not once, but twice.
Both goals were close-range finishes, fueled by chaotic attacking waves, but they sent shockwaves through the footballing world and ignited the stadium. City, shell-shocked and disbelieving, suddenly found themselves level on aggregate and facing an extra period against a Real Madrid side utterly revitalized by their late surge.
The momentum had swung violently. Real were rampant, City reeling. And in the 95th minute, the tie was decided. Karim Benzema, the talismanic forward, was brought down in the box. The penalty was awarded, and only one man was stepping up.
Benzema, with ice in his veins, calmly slotted home. 6-5 on aggregate. Pure, unadulterated drama that underlined Real Madrid’s almost mystical relationship with this competition.
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Barcelona 3-4 Liverpool (2019)
Liverpool arrived at the Nou Camp for the first leg as finalists from the previous year, but left facing a mountain that seemed insurmountable. A goal from former Red Luis Suarez opened the scoring, and then Lionel Messi produced two moments of sheer brilliance, including a breathtaking free-kick, to give Barcelona a commanding 3-0 lead.
The tie felt over. European giants rarely surrender such an advantage, especially against a team boasting the likes of Messi.
However, Anfield on a European night is a special place, capable of conjuring miracles.
Jürgen Klopp’s side needed one, and despite missing key attackers Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, they produced arguably the greatest comeback in Champions League history. The belief inside the stadium was hesitant at first, but Divock Origi’s early goal provided a spark. Liverpool pressed and harried, fueled by the energy of the crowd.
Then came the two minutes that leveled the tie. Georginio Wijnaldum, introduced as a substitute, scored twice in quick succession – a powerful drive and then a header – sending Anfield into pandemonium.
Barcelona, rattled and visibly shaken, had no answer. Their composure vanished, their dominance evaporated. Messi, so influential a week prior, was anonymous.
With the tie level at 3-3 on aggregate, the unthinkable was suddenly within reach. And then came the moment of audacious brilliance that clinched it.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, seeing the Barcelona defence momentarily switch off, took a quick corner. Origi reacted fastest, sweeping the ball home with a clinical finish. 4-0 on the night, 4-3 on aggregate.
The incredible had become reality. Rarely has a Barcelona side been so comprehensively dismantled and demoralized. It was a comeback built on passion, tactical astuteness, and the unique power of Anfield.
Tottenham 3-3 Ajax (2019)
The 2018-19 season saw a young, vibrant Ajax side capture the hearts of neutrals, playing fearless, attacking football and dispatching European heavyweights like Real Madrid and Juventus en route to the semi-finals.
Their opponents were Tottenham Hotspur, making their first appearance at this stage of the Champions League era. Ajax took a slender 1-0 lead back to Amsterdam from the first leg, a result that felt deserved given their performance.
In the Johan Cruyff Arena, things went from bad to worse for Spurs. With talisman Harry Kane injured, Mauricio Pochettino’s side faced an uphill battle that became a near-vertical climb when Matthijs de Ligt and Hakim Ziyech scored to make it 3-0 on aggregate before half-time.
The fairytale run of Ajax seemed set to continue to the final.
Football, as these semi-finals consistently prove, specializes in the improbable. Lucas Moura, often a peripheral figure, stepped up to produce the performance of his life.
The Brazilian forward scored twice in the space of four minutes early in the second half, injecting belief into the Tottenham side and setting up a grandstand finish. Suddenly, Spurs needed just one more away goal to go through.
The tension was unbearable.
Jan Vertonghen hit the crossbar with a header that could have sealed it. Time ticked by. And then, deep into the six minutes of stoppage time, Moura completed his hat-trick. A low drive through a crowded box found the net. 3-2 to Spurs on the night, 3-3 on aggregate.
Tottenham went through on the away goals rule. It was a moment of pure, unadulterated drama, a last-gasp winner that completed a staggering second-half comeback and set up a unique all-English final against Liverpool.
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Borussia Dortmund 4-3 Real Madrid (2013)
Klopp’s ‘Gegenpressing’ machine had already made waves in Europe, notably with a dramatic late victory over Malaga in the quarter-finals. However, facing Real Madrid in the semi-finals was a different test altogether.
Dortmund were not widely tipped to overcome the Spanish giants, but they produced a stunning, high-octane performance in the first leg at the Signal Iduna Park.
The star of the show was Robert Lewandowski. The Polish striker delivered a masterclass in centre-forward play, scoring all four goals for Dortmund in a remarkable 4-1 victory.
The ‘Yellow Wall’ was rocking, witnessing a truly special European night.
Real Madrid needed a 3-0 win in the second leg to overturn the deficit. They pushed hard at the Bernabéu, but Dortmund’s defensive shape and counter-attacking threat were largely effective. It seemed Klopp’s men had done enough to see out the tie.
However, two late goals from Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos in the final ten minutes ensured a nerve-shredding conclusion. The aggregate score tightened to 4-3, and Real threw everything forward. Dortmund, exhausted but resolute.
Chelsea 3-2 Barcelona (2012)
This semi-final, ultimately won by Chelsea on their way to a historic first Champions League title, was a study in defiance, resilience, and dramatic swings of fortune against arguably the greatest club side of the era.
The first leg at Stamford Bridge was a tight affair, settled by a Didier Drogba goal that gave Chelsea a narrow 1-0 advantage to take to the Nou Camp.
The return leg was a classic David vs. Goliath scenario, compounded by early setbacks for the English side. Sergio Busquets tapped in to level the tie on aggregate, and Chelsea’s task became monumentally harder when captain John Terry was shown a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident.
Down to 10 men against a Barcelona side featuring Messi, Iniesta, and Xavi, the writing seemed to be on the wall. Andres Iniesta duly put Barcelona ahead on aggregate with a composed finish.
Chelsea needed a goal, any goal, just to level the tie on away goals. And it came from the most unlikely source, in the most audacious fashion.
Just before half-time, Ramires, the industrious Brazilian midfielder, found himself through on goal. With incredible composure and technique, he chipped Victor Valdes. It was a goal that shifted the entire emotional landscape of the tie, giving Chelsea an improbable lifeline.
The second half saw Barcelona press relentlessly, and they had a golden opportunity to regain control when Lionel Messi was awarded a penalty. However, the seemingly invincible Argentine struck the crossbar. It was a moment that felt fated, a sign that perhaps this just wasn’t Barcelona’s night.
Despite sustained pressure, Chelsea’s depleted defence held firm, frustrating their illustrious opponents. And then, in the dying seconds, as Barcelona committed everyone forward, Fernando Torres, the much-maligned striker, found himself clean through after a long clearance.
With the whole half to run into, he rounded Valdes and rolled the ball into an empty net. It was the final, unbelievable flourish on a remarkable backs-against-the-wall performance that secured Chelsea’s passage to the final.
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AC Milan 5-3 Man Utd (2007)
This tie featured some of the finest players of the era and delivered football of the highest quality, particularly from one individual operating at the absolute peak of his powers. The first leg at Old Trafford started well for Manchester United, with Cristiano Ronaldo putting them ahead early.
The night belonged to Kaka. The Brazilian playmaker, the eventual Ballon d’Or winner that year, produced a mesmerizing performance. He equalized with a sublime solo run and finish, moving past defenders seemingly effortlessly.
He then added a second with a beautiful solo goal, showcasing his incredible skill and flair, leaving Gabriel Heinze and Patrice Evra in his wake.
It was a performance of utter brilliance that left Old Trafford stunned. Wayne Rooney’s resilience brought United back level, and then he powered in a superb late winner to give United a slender 3-2 lead heading to the San Siro.
The return leg was dominated by AC Milan. The San Siro was alive, and Kaka once again proved the difference-maker. His delicious left-footed drive early in the game leveled the tie on away goals and set the tone for a dominant Milan performance.
Clarence Seedorf beat Edwin van der Sar from the edge of the area, and Alberto Gilardino completed the victory, securing a comprehensive 3-0 win on the night and a 5-3 aggregate triumph for a Milan side that was simply irresistible on the night, led by the genius of Kaka.
Man Utd 4-3 Juventus (1999)
Part of Manchester United’s iconic treble-winning season, the semi-final against Juventus was a dramatic encounter that summed up the never-say-die spirit of Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.
The first leg at Old Trafford was a tight battle. Antonio Conte gave Juventus an early lead, and United had to wait until the last minute for Ryan Giggs to hammer home an equalizer, leaving the tie finely poised at 1-1.
The second leg in Turin began disastrously for United. Filippo Inzaghi scored twice in the opening 11 minutes, giving Juventus a commanding 3-1 aggregate lead and seemingly ending United’s hopes. Game over? Not for Roy Keane.
The captain, leading by example despite picking up a yellow card that would rule him out of the final, scored a crucial header to give United a foothold.
Fueled by Keane’s intensity, United pressed forward. Dwight Yorke headed in to level the tie on the night and put United ahead on away goals before half-time in a truly classic encounter. Juventus thought they had regained the lead through Inzaghi, but his hat-trick goal was correctly ruled out for offside.
The tension was almost unbearable. Then, Andrew Cole tapped in to seal a famous 3-2 win on the night and a 4-3 aggregate victory, completing a remarkable comeback against a formidable Juventus side and sending United to the final they would go on to win in equally dramatic fashion.
Where Does the 2025 Champions League Semi-Final Rank?
Having revisited these legendary ties, we return to the question: Is Inter Milan 7-6 Barcelona (2025) the best Champions League semi-final ever?
It’s an incredibly difficult question to answer definitively, as “best” is subjective and depends on what criteria you prioritize.
If you value sheer, unadulterated aggregate goals and lead changes, 2025 is certainly a strong contender with its 13 goals and multiple swings in momentum over two legs.
The 2025 Inter vs. Barcelona tie combines many of these elements. It had a high number of goals across the two legs, significant swings in momentum in both matches, a dramatic, last-gasp equaliser to force extra time, and a winning goal in the added period. The emotional rollercoaster for fans of both clubs and neutral observers was arguably as intense as any tie on this list.
Perhaps the only thing that might slightly diminish its claim compared to some others is the historical context. The 1999 United side was chasing a treble.
However, judging the semi-final itself, based purely on the 180 (or 210) minutes of action, drama, quality, and unpredictability, the 2025 clash between Inter Milan and Barcelona has a very strong claim.
It felt like the culmination of every great semi-final that came before it, borrowing elements of impossible comebacks, late winners, high-scoring affairs, and sheer, nerve-shredding tension.
It’s a debate that will rage for years to come, one that every football fan will have their own passionate opinion on. For now, let’s just appreciate that we have witnessed another entry into the pantheon of truly epic Champions League semi-finals.
However, I want to hear from you. Having read about these 7 incredible ties, which one stands out to you?
Which one is your favourite, and why?
Rank them in order of your personal preference in the comments below and join the debate.
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