Here is the translation:
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An endless, spectacular match—regarded by many as the game of the century, one that no one will forget. There are no more adjectives to describe Inter’s feat in the Champions League against Flick’s Barcelona. Not only for reaching the final—the second time in three years with Inzaghi on the bench—but also because qualification came when no one believed in it anymore, when it seemed the Spaniards had already secured their passage, having twice overturned the result. Both in the first leg and the return. From 2-0 to 3-2 at San Siro. The best betting site and all the others had already declared Barcelona’s victory after Raphinha’s goal in the 88th minute. Then Acerbi defied every prediction, making San Siro and thousands of fans at home explode with joy well into injury time. In such an endless match like Tuesday night’s, we have chosen three epic moments, three frames above all, that we will remember forever. Moments Inter fans will never forget, and even casual viewers, glued to their TVs until the very end with record audiences, won’t be able to forget them either—watching a match that just seemed like it would never end.
Sommer’s Miracle Save on Yamal
The look on the prodigy’s face is etched in every fan’s mind. Yamal is surprised, amazed, frozen after Sommer’s save. He stands still, motionless, almost unable to believe what just happened, what he has just seen. A true miracle, compared by many to Julio Cesar’s save against Messi in the 2010 semifinal at the Camp Nou. Saves both similar and different. Both decisive, both incredibly difficult. Fans were ready to use their betting bonuses and might have regretted it after the stunning twist in the 93rd minute. It was the end of the second half of extra time. Yamal had curled a stunning shot toward the far post. Only a miracle could have stopped Flick’s talented youngster from scoring the goal that would have reopened the match and brought the looming specter of penalties. But the miracle had a name: Sommer. Who dove and tipped the ball out for a corner. Everyone went crazy, commentators included. Incredulous, like Yamal, at the incredible intervention. Live, according to those present, it was even more beautiful and astonishing. A save worth a whole season—surely, a place in the final.
Frattesi’s Burst of Emotion and His Illness After the Goal
How could anyone forget what happened to Davide Frattesi, truly the hero of Inter-Barcelona? It was his decisive goal in the first of the two extra-time periods. An invaluable assist from Taremi set up the former Sassuolo midfielder, who then went wild in his celebration. Running towards the fans, veins bulging, face red, pure joy, a spectacular explosion of happiness for one of the most important goals of his career—in fact, the most important, even more so than the one in Munich against Bayern. Frattesi perhaps overdid it in his celebrations and a minute later play was stopped as he felt unwell. A bit of dizziness, maybe from the way he celebrated. He recovered and fought for every ball until the end. On social media, the fans went wild. Everyone praised Frattesi, who is truly an idol. Of all the alternatives, he’s the most appreciated. He doesn’t play much, but when he comes on, he almost always scores—a makeshift striker, with incredible grit in every surge, in every match Inzaghi decides to play him.
The Decisive Instant: From 4-2 to 3-3. The Beauty of Football
Perhaps, though, the image that will stay in memory—the decisive one—is that moment between nightmare and dream. Between Yamal’s post and Acerbi’s goal. Inter risking to go 4-2 down, but instead scoring the 3-3 that reopened everything, changing the emotions and the psychology of the match. The goal from Inzaghi’s defender revived the Nerazzurri and stunned Barcelona, who were unable to react. Flick’s boys had dreamed of the final, and after Yamal’s shot, it seemed over. The post didn’t shake the Spaniards much—after all, the game was virtually over; there was so little time left. But football reminded everyone that judgments and predictions can be overturned in just a few seconds. Dumfries crossed, Acerbi scored. His first Champions League goal at 37 years old. The rest is well-known history. But above all, it’s history.
