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Marcotti: Inter Milan were brave vs. Barcelona (1:09)
Gab Marcotti praises Inter Milan’s “brave” performance away at Barcelona in their UCL semifinal first leg game vs. Barcelona. (1:09)
Associated Press
Apr 30, 2025, 07:05 PM ET
BARCELONA, Spain — Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfries returned and so did the goals for Inter Milan.
Dumfries scored two and set up the opener for Thuram as Inter drew 3-3 at Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal on Wednesday.
“I’m happy, it was a difficult period for me because of the injury but now I’m back,” Dumfries told broadcaster Amazon Prime. “It was certainly a great return.”
Inter had lost their previous three matches without scoring a goal — the first time that had happened in more than 13 years. That run had seen it surrender their Serie A lead and exit the Italian Cup.
Thuram had missed those three matches with a left thigh injury. Dumfries had been sidelined for even longer, missing eight matches with a hamstring problem before returning as a late substitute last weekend.
The duo immediately showed Inter what it had been missing as Thuram back-heeled in a cross by Dumfries to stun Barcelona just seconds after kickoff.
It was Thuram’s 18th goal of the season for Inter. He has also weighed in with nine assists.
Dumfries then doubled Inter’s lead in the 21st minute with a bicycle kick. He became the first Dutch player to both score and assist in a Champions League semifinal since Wesley Sneijder — coincidentally also for Inter against Barcelona, in 2010.
Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres hauled the hosts level shortly before halftime but Dumfries notched his second in the 64th, heading home a corner kick to put Inter back ahead.
However, Barcelona were quickly back level when Raphinha’s blistering shot from outside the top of the box struck the crossbar and ricocheted in off the back of Yann Sommer, going down as an own goal by the Inter goalkeeper.
“We had a good game,” Dumfries said. “I think after three straight defeats we saw the real Inter, playing with heart. I’m proud of us.
“Obviously we wanted to win but I think it was a good game and everything’s still open, we’ll see at San Siro.”
The second leg will be next week in Milan. The winner will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal in Munich on May 31. PSG beat Arsenal 1-0 in London on Tuesday in their first match.
