Amorim says 'worst season' could finish with European title in Man Utd news conference
Champions League reaction as Inter beat Barcelona in extra time to reach final
Thrilling match ends 7-6 on aggregate after two pulsating ties
Inter looked to be heading out before scoring late on and again in extra time
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Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter
I just had to double-check the meaning of Lee Dixon's "seat-pants stuff" reference in my footballing lexicon.
Got this from an online dictionary.
Seat-of-the-pants: To use your own experience and trust your own judgment to find the best way out of a crisis.
Yep, that pretty much sums up the journey taken by both sides across both legs of the Inter Milan v Barcelona semi-final...
Inter Milan 4-3 AET (agg 7-6)
Lee Dixon
Former England defender on 5 Live breakfast
People are talking about the best semi-final ever, I think, when you combine the two games, a 7-6 aggregate score. I think over the two games, you’ll be very stretched to try and find a semi-final better than those two together. When it kicked off last night, 0-0, I thought it couldn’t live up to the first game, but it was absolutely seat-pants stuff. The chances and the way it swung from one end to the other, it was just incredible, and you couldn’t turn it off.
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As a Spurs fan, nothing will beat the 2019 comeback. While Liverpool had 90 minutes to recover three goals at Anfield, Spurs had 45 minutes away at Ajax to do the same. Lucas Moura we love you!
Ben, West Sussex
Which was the best Champions League semi-final?
Image source, Getty ImagesA thrilling first leg at Etihad Stadium saw Pep Guardiola overcome his old rivals on his most recent pursuit of Champions League glory. His side battled with Real Madrid to take a 4-3 lead into the second leg.
In a game which was not short of chances, Riyad Mahrez extended City's advantage at the Bernabeu to leave Carlo Ancelotti's men needing two goals just to take the tie to extra time.
Substitute Rodrygo kick-started an incredible turnaround, putting two efforts past Ederson in as many minutes right at the end of normal time.
To Manchester City's disbelief, they now had to put up with a fully enthused Madrid side, who managed to grab a place in the Champions League final thanks to a 95th-minute penalty from Karim Benzema. Pure drama.
Talking of great semi-final match-ups...Mina Rzouki said she wants less Manchester City v Real Madrid and more Inter v Barca.
But City and Real have served up some corkers...
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Can we just shelve the match tonight and make it an Inter v Barca trilogy for the final please? What a tie!
Tom in London
We are guessing you are not an Arsenal fan, Tom in London?
Inter Milan 4-3 Barcelona AET (agg 7-6)
Francesco Acerbi coming in with a touch map to rival the best of them after last night.
The 37-year-old defender was the hero for Inter Milan, scoring in the third minute of stoppage time to send the tie into extra-time.
His goal, his first ever in the Champions League, came from his only touch in the opposition box in the entire night and just his fourth in the Barcelona half.
Granted, it's not like you expect your centre-back to have tens of touches in the opposition half each game but still, it's pleasing on the eye.
Talking about a thing of beauty, take a look at Francesco Acerbi's touch map, coming up in the next post...
It's enough to reduce even the most hardened of central defenders to tears...
Image source, Getty ImagesInter Milan 4-3 Barcelona AET (agg 7-6)
Mina Rzouki
European football expert on 5 Live Breakfast
This was one of the most entertaining, technically beautiful, full of goals and drama type of a match and we got served with two matches.
I vote we stop having City v Madrid and start having more Inter v Barcelona.
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When you wake up with goose bumps just thinking about the match the night before you know you witnessed something very special. What a game! Two legs which literally had everything, from lots of goals, disallowed goals, penalties, turnarounds, late drama, extra-time, stunning settings, attack-minded playing, superb saves and wild celebrations. OMG I’ve got goose bumps again.
Carlo Martella, Milan fan
Is that an Inter Milan or AC Milan fan Carlo? Guessing maybe Inter?
Inter Milan 4-3 Barcelona AET (agg 7-6)
Image source, Getty ImagesInter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi: "It was an amazing night, one to share with our fans, our club and our families. The players did something extraordinary.
"We played four amazing games against two world-class teams like Bayern [in the quarter-final] and Barcelona.
"It was great to celebrate this achievement here with our fans."
We have heard from Barcelona boss Hansi Flick, who was less than impressed with the officiating at the San Siro.
As you can imagine, Inter Milan head coach Simone Inzaghi was a little more enthused...
Just joining us? Worry not, as we've got you covered.
This morning has been all about Inter Milan and Barcelona, who played out a Champions League thriller at San Siro last night.
Here's a recap of what we've been discussing:
What's to come? We will hear from Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim after lunch as we switch focus to the Europa League last-four ties, before finishing the day with a long build-up to tonight's second leg of Arsenal's Champions League semi-final against PSG in Paris.
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Liverpool 4-0 Barca was, for me, the best semi as Liverpool were up against it all night. I jumped about 3 feet in the air after Origi scored from that delightful Trent corner and I’m not even a Liverpool fan!
Ryan
Which was the best Champions League semi-final?
Image source, Getty ImagesFinalists the previous year, Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool looked as though they were heading out after a goal from Luis Suarez and a Lionel Messi double - including a dream free-kick - condemned them to a 3-0 first-leg loss at the Nou Camp.
The Reds needed a second-leg miracle. Usual starters Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino were missing - but up stepped Divock Origi.
The striker pulled one back in the first 10 minutes and, as belief rose inside a fervent Anfield, midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum popped up with two goals in two minutes to level the tie.
Rarely have you seen Barcelona so rattled. Messi was as anonymous as he was omnipresent just a week earlier, and when Origi swept in Trent Alexander-Arnold's quick corner with 11 minutes left the incredible had become reality.
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The Inter vs. Barcelona game was full of twists and turns. To sum it up, football is like life. The twist in the tale happens when it is least expected.
Jason, Nigeria
Inter Milan 4-3 Barcelona AET (agg 7-6)
Image source, Getty ImagesBarcelona manager Hansi Flick: "I don't want to talk too much about the referee, but every decision that was 50-50 went Inter's way.
"We gave everything and sometimes it is like that. It feels a little unfair because I think some decisions the referee made were really not on our side but we have to accept it.
"I am disappointed, but not with my team. They tried everything. It's the way it is. We are out, but next year we will try again to make the fans happy."
When probed more on the referee's performance, Flick said: "It makes me sad, my team did an excellent job. I don't like talking about the referee. I've told him what I think, but I'm not going to say it here what I've said."
Not everyone was happy about the spectacle, Dave.
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick was not overly enamoured by the referee Szymon Marciniak's performance...
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Last night's game was the closest European match I can remember, certainly in recent times, to the Premier League of yesteryear. Not the tippy-tappy, boring, horseshoe football we are subjected to these days. It had everything to entertain the fans, which is what it should be all about. Thanks to both teams for restoring my faith, even for a little while.
Dave WSM
Which was the best Champions League semi-final?
Image source, Getty ImagesAjax had been the breakout side of the 2018-19 Champions League campaign, beating Real Madrid and Juventus to set up a tie with Tottenham. So it was perhaps no surprise when they left London with a 1-0 lead.
In Amsterdam, things went from bad to worse for Tottenham. With no Harry Kane up front, they were facing a mountain to climb when Matthijs de Ligt and Hakim Ziyech made it 3-0 on aggregate before half-time.
Lucas Moura inspired a magnificent comeback. The forward scored twice in the space of four minutes to leave the visitors needing one goal to go through.
And after Jan Vertonghen had headed against the post, Moura's low drive completed his hat-trick to give his side victory on the away goals rule and set up an all-English final against Liverpool.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 5 | 12 | 21 |
| |
| 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 28 | 13 | 15 | 19 |
| |
| 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 3 | 13 | 19 |
| |
| 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 10 | 19 |
| |
| 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 18 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 16 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 16 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 16 |
| |
| 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 6 | 14 | 15 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 12 | 10 | 15 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 15 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 15 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 15 |
| |
14 PSV | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 14 |
|
| 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 13 |
| |
16 Benfica | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 13 |
|
| 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| |
18 Brest | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 11 | -1 | 13 |
|
19 Feyenoord | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 21 | -3 | 13 |
|
| 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 12 |
| |
| 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 14 | -1 | 12 |
| |
| 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 11 |
| |
23 Sporting CP | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 11 |
|
24 Club Brugge | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 11 |
|
25 Dinamo Zagreb | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 19 | -7 | 11 |
|
26 Stuttgart | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 17 | -4 | 10 |
|
27 Shakhtar Donetsk | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 16 | -8 | 7 |
|
28 Bologna | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 6 |
|
29 Red Star Belgrade | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 22 | -9 | 6 |
|
30 Sturm Graz | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 14 | -9 | 6 |
|
31 Sparta Prague | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 21 | -14 | 4 |
|
| 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 15 | -7 | 3 |
| |
33 Girona | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 13 | -8 | 3 |
|
34 Red Bull Salzburg | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 27 | -22 | 3 |
|
35 Slovan Bratislava | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 27 | -20 | 0 |
|
36 Young Boys | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 24 | -21 | 0 |
|
