Inter the final: Frattesi sends Milan to Munich showpiece

Inter Milan has another Champions League final to look forward to.

Once the players catch their breath, that is.

In the end, it took extra time, two astonishing comebacks and 13 goals to separate Barcelona and Inter and see the Italian club — which was mere seconds away from elimination — prevail 4-3 on Tuesday, winning the roller-coaster semifinal tie 7-6 on aggregate.

Substitute Davide Frattesi was the extra-time hero for Inter, firing home in the 99th minute, leaving Barcelona players slumped on the ground in despair, as his Nerazzurri teammates — including those on the bench — raced onto the pitch to join him in rapturous celebration.

"I don't know what happened tonight. I'm lucky I managed to finish the game, I screamed so much (in celebration) that everything went black," Frattesi told Italian broadcaster Sky.

Moments earlier, he'd been encouraging the already loud San Siro crowd to make more noise, and the atmosphere grew more feverish after Frattesi delivered on his super-sub reputation again.

"That's part of my career," the midfielder said. "I wasn't given so much incredible talent, but I am always the last one to give up and the first one to believe we can do it. At 3-3, I told Marcus (Thuram) that we would go through."

Three-time European champion Inter, which lost the 2023 final to Manchester City, will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal in the final in Munich on May 31. PSG beat Arsenal 1-0 in London last week in their first match, with the return leg in Paris on Wednesday.

Inter coach Simone Inzaghi thinks his squad has shown in its wins over Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals and, now, Barca in the semis, that it can compete against the very best.

"My players have been extraordinary, they've put out there two monstrous performances to get to this final," he said. "We have to continue. The final will be played against a really great team, whether it's Arsenal or PSG. Barcelona and Bayern are probably the best teams in Europe at the moment, but it will still be difficult.

"It took a super Inter — applause for these guys. I'm happy to be their coach, they gave me everything they had.

"It is only right that they enjoy the success in this stadium."

Inter had a two-goal lead at halftime before Barca staged a stunning comeback and looked like stealing the win, but Francesco Acerbi snatched a late equalizer, before substitute Frattesi netted the extra-time winner to send the home fans wild.

"We had some problems, but with our hearts we went beyond every obstacle," Inzaghi said.

"We tried to play for it, with the weapons and the qualities we have. After the first leg, we had a game plan in mind, but without sacrifice and everyone helping each other, you can't do it."

Inzaghi saw plenty of quality in Barcelona's side, and not just 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, who had taken most of the plaudits after his goal and performance in the first leg.

"There has been a lot of talk about Yamal, I have seen another extraordinary player: (Barcelona midfielder Frenkie) De Jong," Inzaghi said.

"He impressed me at Yamal's level, he cleaned out every second ball. I wouldn't change mine for anyone in the world, but I've seen many strong players besides Yamal."