A day after what`s being hailed as one of football`s most remarkable matches, a sense of awe and disbelief lingers not only among the fans who were at San Siro on Tuesday night but also for anyone who watched the game globally. The second leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals between Inter and Barcelona perfectly captured the essence and allure of the beautiful game. When Francesco Acerbi scored to make it 3-3, keeping Inter`s hopes alive just a minute before the final whistle, some home fans had already departed, convinced the outcome was decided. They were emphatically proven wrong. Upon hearing the 37-year-old Italian defender had netted his first European goal, they reportedly attempted to re-enter the stands, only to be denied.
San Siro crackled with energy that Tuesday night, hosting a truly historic encounter. Anticipation was palpable among the home crowd beforehand, sensing a match that could shape their team`s 2024-25 campaign. What unfolded was a game rapidly being labeled among the greatest ever, a night the fortunate attendees of San Siro will cherish indefinitely. Perhaps the most memorable game ever staged at this legendary Italian venue.
San Siro, shared by Milan rivals Inter and AC, faces an uncertain future amidst discussions of a potential new stadium complex nearby. The prospect has divided fans, given San Siro`s status as a globally iconic footballing arena. Constructed in 1929, San Siro has for nearly a century hosted countless classic encounters, with both Milan clubs playing pivotal roles in football`s evolution. Notable Champions League ties, including AC Milan`s paths to victory in 2003 and 2007, unfolded here. The 1990s saw global icons like Van Basten, Gullit, Baggio, and Ronaldo grace its pitch during Serie A`s era of global dominance. Cataloging all its memorable fixtures is a vast undertaking, yet the recent Inter vs. Barcelona clash already stands out among the finest witnessed at this storied venue.
Modern football`s most thrilling matches often feature epic, unexpected comebacks. Prime examples include Barcelona`s `Remontada` vs. PSG in 2017, Liverpool`s stunning victory over Barcelona in 2019, and Roma`s turnaround against Barcelona in the 2017-18 quarter-finals. More recently, Real Madrid`s 2022 campaign was defined by consecutive knockout stage comebacks against PSG, Chelsea, and Manchester City en route to their final win over Liverpool.
However, Inter`s recent triumph against Barcelona offered a distinct kind of drama – it wasn`t a comeback. Across both legs – the pulsating 3-3 draw away and the dramatic 4-3 home win – the tie remained fiercely contested. Inter led 2-0 away before Barcelona fought back to draw. Something similar happened in the second leg; after Inter`s opening goals, Barcelona responded, ultimately taking a 3-2 lead before Francesco Acerbi`s late equalizer made it 3-3, leading to a climactic finish where Inter secured the 4-3 win. Neither team ever felt fully in control, except perhaps briefly in the dying minutes, which only amplified the spectacle for viewers worldwide. But those present, breathing in the electric atmosphere of San Siro on that historic night, will forever remember the physical sensation of the stadium`s energy.
A famous saying about Boca Juniors` home ground, La Bombonera, states, `It doesn`t tremble, it beats,` capturing the intense feeling of the stadium`s movement during matches. San Siro on Tuesday delivered a similar pulsating experience. Following the victory, Inter winger Federico Dimarco, speaking to Sky Italy with former midfielder Esteban Cambiasso (who played in Inter`s last semi-final win over Barcelona under Mourinho in 2010), offered a memorable quote about the stadium: `I hear that other stadiums are chaotic, but nothing compares to San Siro.`
Benedict Kingsley