Barcelona 3-3 Inter Milan: Yamal shines again as two heavyweights play out six-goal Champions League classic | OneFootball

Fans were treated to six goals of the highest quality

Barcelona and Inter Milan battled to an unforgettable draw as six stunning goals failed to separate the two European heavyweights in an indisputable Champions League classic.

Lamine Yamal, making his hundredth Barcelona appearance at just 17 years of age, was at his prodigious best throughout and at times bore a striking resemblance to one Lionel Messi, but still could not quite drag the Blaugrana to a win.

Milan lost the lead twice on the night in ninety minutes of constant, dazzling action which will live long in the memory.

Dumfries scored a bicycle kick to put Inter two to the good

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The first half was a perfect advert for the beautiful game. Marcus Thuram opened the scoring after just 30 seconds, tapping home with an audacious backheel flick before Denzel Dumfries doubled Inter’s advantage, redirecting Francesco Acerbi’s header beyond Wojciech Szcezny with a masterful overhead kick.

But Barcelona would not be behind for long. Just as fans took their seats around the ground, Lamine Yamal gave them a series of reasons to get back on their feet.

Before the match, it was unclear whether he would start at all as he appeared to pick up an injury in the warmup, but he shook off any pain he was feeling to terrorise Alessandro Bastoni and the rest of the Milan back-line.

He would contribute a dazzling solo effort to halve Barcelona’s deficit, dancing beyond five Milan defenders before curling a snap shot in off the far post. From receiving the pass, to beating his man, to beating a further four men, to finishing with utter nonchalance, he could only draw parallels to one man - that little Argentinian winger who wooed so many with his performances in burgundy and navy blue.

The match was a thrilling, end-to-end affair

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And he would continue to cause problems in the second period, even without touching the ball. He offered up a subtle dummy to let a low corner run to Raphinha, who would launch a powerful effort goalwards, deflecting in via the crossbar and Sommer’s back to cancel out Dumfries’ second goal, which had come moments earlier.

At three apiece and having lost the lead twice, though, Inter would not lie down. Dumfries, having already recorded two goals and an assist, opted for an unselfish if misguided cross after dribbling into the area, which was cleared away comfortably, before Henrikh Mkhitaryan had a would-be winner ruled out for the most narrow of offsides, one which only VAR could have picked up on.

Raphinha lasered a stinging shot at goal shortly after the 90-minute mark, forcing a save from Szcezny. A suffocating press ensured Milan would barely exit their half in the closing exchanges, remaining under siege through to the final whistle.

But they would hold firm, the match finishing a breathless stalemate - three apiece would have to do.