'thank You Inter & Barca' - The Game Nobody Wanted To End

"It gave america everything. From commencement to decorativeness past week to this week, everything astir this semi-final has been axenic entertainment," said Alan Shearer.

For nan 2nd clip successful six days Inter Milan and Barcelona served up a European classical arsenic nan champions of Italy won 4-3 connected nan night - 7-6 connected aggregate - to scope nan Champions League final.

In a thriller that will beryllium remembered for years to come, Barca had trailed 2-0 and 3-2 successful nan first limb successful Catalonia earlier salvaging a 3-3 draw.

On Tuesday successful Milan, they were past 2-0 down astatine half-time - 5-3 connected aggregate - earlier scoring 3 times without reply.

Raphinha's 87th-minute onslaught was nan first clip Barca had taken nan lead connected aggregate but Francesco Acerbi's first European extremity astatine nan property of 37 took an utterly absorbing necktie into other time, pinch substitute Davide Frattesi scoring nan victor to nonstop much than 70,000 Inter fans wrong nan San Siro into raptures.

It was nan associated highest-scoring Champions League semi-final ever, pinch nan 13 goals equalling nan 2018 semi-final erstwhile Liverpool besides defeated Roma 7-6 connected aggregate.

"We didn't expect this, did we?" added erstwhile England skipper Shearer, who was wrong nan San Siro for Amazon Prime.

"We expected a bully game, but this? Thank you Inter Milan, convey you Barcelona for providing america pinch unthinkable intermezo and 2 awesome shot matches.

"What we person witnessed has been thing very special. It's been a pleasance to beryllium here."

Inter will look either Paris St-Germain aliases Arsenal - who meet successful nan different semi-final successful France connected Wednesday (20:00 BST) - aft 1 of nan awesome modern classics.

PSG lead 1-0 from nan first leg.

No neutrals wanted this necktie afloat of twists and turns to extremity but, erstwhile Polish referee Szymon Marciniak sounded nan last whistle astatine 23:38 section time, Inter Milan's players sank to their knees exhausted but triumphant.

They remained connected nan transportation for a bully 15 to 20 minutes aft full-time to show their appreciation to their delirious fans, who tin commencement booking flights and hotels for nan last successful Munich connected 31 May.

"Inter were heading out, they were done," added Shearer.

"They someway recovered a measurement to get themselves into nan final. They merit to beryllium there."

Inter's occurrence successful this season's title has been built connected dogged resilience and cleanable sheets.

Not against Barcelona.

They conceded much goals against nan La Liga leaders complete 210 minutes than they had successful their opening 12 matches successful this season's Champions League put together.

The three-time winners had kept 8 cleanable sheets successful all, pinch Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer signaling 7 of those.

On Tuesday alone, Barcelona peppered Inter's extremity pinch 22 attempts - 10 connected target - and scored 3 times successful nan abstraction of 33 minutes.

But Inter dug heavy to spell done pinch substitute Davide Frattesi scoring his side's extra-time winner.

"What happened? I don't know!" he said afterwards. "I celebrated truthful loudly that my caput was spinning."

It is 15 years since Inter - managed by Jose Mourinho astatine nan clip - were crowned champions of Europe. No Italian broadside has won nan Champions League since that triumph complete Bayern Munich successful 2010.

Will that alteration astatine nan extremity of nan month?

While they weren't needfully nan evident prime to triumph this year's competition, earlier a shot was kicked Opta did complaint them arsenic 3rd favourites to spell each nan measurement down Real Madrid and Manchester City. With some of those teams already out, Inter are now successful nan container seat.

And they went backmost successful clip to scope their 2nd last successful 3 seasons.

The 2023 runners-up to Manchester City are unbeaten successful 16 location games successful nan Champions League - their longest undefeated tally connected their ain turf successful Europe since nan 1980s.

"It was an astonishing night," said Inter leader Simone Inzaghi. "One to stock pinch our fans, our nine and our families. The players did thing extraordinary.

"We played 4 astonishing games against 2 world-class teams for illustration Bayern [in nan quarter-final] and Barcelona. It was awesome to observe this accomplishment present pinch our fans."

Inter's Netherlands defender Denzel Dumfries ended pinch 2 goals and 3 assists complete nan 2 legs against Barcelona.

"A crazy lucifer again! Seven goals today... it was incredible," said Dumfries.

Italy midfielder Frattesi added: "After nan crippled successful Munich, I thought I would ne'er acquisition thing for illustration this again successful position of emotions.

"But that's nan beauty of football. It's portion of my career; I've ever been nan first to judge and nan past to springiness up."

Watch highlights of each Champions League crippled from 22:00 connected Wednesday connected BBC iPlayer and nan BBC Sport website and app.

There will besides beryllium a Champions League Match of nan Day connected BBC One connected Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.