Defiant Pride Amid Heartbreak
Barcelona’s 7-6 aggregate defeat to Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-final on May 6, 2025, at San Siro, dubbed an “epic” by Spanish media, left fans proud yet frustrated. As reported by The Independent, Inter advanced to face PSG or Arsenal after a chaotic 4-3 second-leg loss for Barcelona, sealed by Davide Frattesi’s 99th-minute extra-time goal. Catalan outlet Mundo Deportivo headlined “Goodbye epic,” lauding Lamine Yamal’s “stratospheric” 14 dribbles, a Champions League record since Neymar’s 15 in 2020. Sport’s front page declared “Proud of this team!” asserting Hansi Flick’s squad exited with “heads held high” but criticized referee Szymon Marciniak and VAR for pivotal calls. On X, @Sport_EN hailed Yamal as “generational,” while @BarcaTimes labeled the officiating a “robbery,” reflecting widespread fan discontent.
Controversial Calls and Yamal’s Brilliance
Inter surged to a 2-0 lead with goals from Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Calhanoglu’s penalty, but Barcelona’s second-half fightback, led by Eric Garcia, Dani Olmo, and Raphinha’s 87th-minute strike, briefly put them ahead. Francesco Acerbi’s stoppage-time equalizer and Frattesi’s winner, however, crushed hopes. Barcelona protested a missed foul by Denzel Dumfries on Gerard Martin before Acerbi’s goal, with Flick lamenting: “Some 50-50 decisions always went to Inter. I’m proud, but it feels unfair.” Italian media, like Corriere dello Sport’s playful “Yamala,” mocked Yamal, while Gazzetta dello Sport praised “mythical Inter” for ousting “super Yamal’s Barca.” Tuttosport’s “Interstellar” highlighted Inter’s “class and heart.” Yamal’s 2.1 expected goals and 7 shots underscored his dominance, per Opta, yet goalkeeper Yann Sommer’s heroics, including a final save, earned him player of the match.
Flick’s Focus Forward
Flick avoided dwelling on refereeing: “It’s not fair to my team, who did a huge job, to focus on that.” Despite the loss, Barcelona’s 40 Champions League goals and 68% possession in the tie showcase their attacking prowess. On X, @FCBFanatic called for focus on La Liga, where Barcelona lead with 34 points. Inter’s Matteo Darmian admitted surprise at Acerbi’s attacking run, but Barcelona’s resilience, with 14 shots in the second leg, signals potential for a strong 2025/26 campaign. As Inter eye their first Champions League title since 2010, Barcelona shift to domestic dominance, buoyed by Yamal’s emergence and Flick’s tactical nous.
