08/05/2025

THURSDAY | MAY 8, 2025

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Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsi (bottom) tackles Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez during their Champions League semifinal second leg. – AFPPIC

San Siro thriller Frattesi shoots Inter into UCL finals after win against Barca

D AVIDE FRATTESI fired Inter Milan into the Champions League final yesterday with an extra-time winner which gave the Italians a stunning 4-3 triumph over Barcelona, 7-6 on aggregate. Italy midfielder Frattesi won a tie for the ages under a downpour in Milan when he lashed home in the 99th minute after great play from Marcus Thuram, sending a packed and rocking San Siro wild with joy. Simone Inzaghi’s team will face either Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain at the end of this month in Munich, where they will feel they have a great chance to be crowned kings of Europe for a fourth time after coming out on top in an epic contest. Frattesi has become something of a super-sub for Inter and he struck late just as he did in the first leg of his team’s quarterfinal win over Bayern Munich. “It’s just incredible, I don’t know

to maintain their four-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of La Liga on Sunday (10.15pm Malaysian time) after missing out on a chance to claim every trophy available this season. “The truth is we are sad. We wanted to get to the final, we were having a great Champions League campaign,” said Ronald Araujo to Movistar . “We were very close and it got away from us.” After the match against Inter, Hansi Flick said that his Barcelona players will bounce back from their dramatic Champions League semifinal defeat. Barca were gunning for a quadruple in Flick’s first season as coach but will have to go again in Europe’s top club competition after a defeat which was hard to digest. “I’m proud of my team, I’m proud of your team, we gave everything, and sometimes it’s like that,” Flick told reporters. “We have to accept it, and we start again next season. To win the Champions League, this is one of our goals … We will be back next season.” Flick has already won the Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey and is still favourite to complete a domestic treble. “And of course, La Liga, it will be also a tough match on Sunday but we also give everything,” added Flick. “When they (the players) look in the mirror when they arrive at home at three or four o’clock in the night, or in the morning, I think they can be very proud.”

what to say. I thought after the Bayern game I couldn’t ever feel the same emotions, but tonight was even more incredible,” said Frattesi to Sky Sport . “This has been my career, really. I wasn’t blessed with incredible talent, but I never give up and always believe and this is the reward for all my effort and dedication.” Yesterday’s triumph saved

Meanwhile, Lautaro Martinez said yesterday that he was brought to tears at a hamstring injury which nearly kept him out of Inter Milan’s Champions League decider with Barcelona.

Inter’s season as their bid for the treble went up in smoke after getting past Bayern. I n t e r

Inter captain Martinez almost didn’t play at the San Siro after being injured in last week’s first leg, drawn 3 3 in Catalonia, but recovered to start another thrilling match which ended with the Italians winning on aggregate. “The first two days I just sat at home crying, but we did great work with the staff and I managed to recover,” Martinez told Sky Sport . “You’ve got to give your all in these games. I promised my family that I would get on the pitch today.” – AFP

conceded top spot in Serie A

to Napoli, who are favourites to claim the domestic league title, while AC Milan dumped them out of the Italian Cup. But Inter ended Barca’s hopes for the quadruple and head into the final weeks of the season buoyant with a second Champions League final in three seasons to look forward to. “We know that there are two really strong teams in the other semi. But you have to play to win any final,” said Federico Dimarco. Barca now have to try

Inter Milan’s Francesco Acerbi (left) scores his team’s third goal against Barcelona. – AFPPIC

Davide Frattesi celebrates after scoring against Barcelona. – AFPPIC

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