Bastoni: ‘Lamine Yamal is incredible, Inter never give up’ | OneFootball

Alessandro Bastoni was blown away by ‘incredible’ Lamine Yamal, but Inter will fight it out with Barcelona for a Champions League Final spot after this 3-3 thriller. ‘We had fun out there too.’

This was an extraordinary game of football at Montjuic, as the Nerazzurri took the lead within 30 seconds thanks to a Marcus Thuram back-heel flick, then doubled their lead with Denzel Dumfries.

The hosts fought back for 2-2 by half-time with Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres, then when Dumfries added his second, Raphinha’s scorcher bounced off the crossbar, hit Yann Sommer and ricocheted into the net.

Barcelona 3-3 Inter game of the season

BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 30: Marcus Thuram of FC Internazionale scores his team’s first goal whilst under pressure from Inigo Martinez and Pau Cubarsi of FC Barcelona during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between FC Barcelona and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on April 30, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Was it as enjoyable to play in as it was to watch?

“We had fun out there too,” assured Bastoni on Amazon Prime Video Italia and Sky Sport Italia.

“Barcelona are such a strong team with remarkable players, it’s always good to measure yourself up against teams like this. After all, it is a Champions League semi-final. There were chances at both ends.”

Inter stunned by Lamine Yamal talent

BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 30: Yann Sommer of FC Internazionale saves a shot from Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between FC Barcelona and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on April 30, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Lamine Yamal was torturing Inter’s defence, especially in the first half, and the 17-year-old also hit the frame of the goal twice.

“He’s an incredible player, you have to hold your hand up and admit it,” confessed Bastoni.

“Yamal is perhaps the best winger in the world right now. At his age too, only 17, we give credit to the player and the incredible work they did with him at La Masia.”

Not much was expected of Inter here considering they were coming off three consecutive defeats in all competition, but they took the game to Barcelona.

“It wasn’t easy after the last week we had, but we proved that Inter are here and we will not give up,” added Bastoni.

The second leg will be at San Siro on Tuesday May 6, so Inter have home advantage for the showdown.

“I think this was my 57th game of the season. Now the second leg is 50-50, we basically start from 0-0, so whoever wins goes into the Final. We must have the same spirit and determination that we did today.”

BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 30: Henrikh Mkhitaryan of FC Internazionale scores a goal past Wojciech Szczesny of FC Barcelona that is later disallowed due to an offside offence during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between FC Barcelona and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on April 30, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Bastoni was laughing and joking with Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny after the final whistle, so what did he say to the former Juventus star?

“I can’t say! I congratulated him for the choice that he made, changing his mind to stay a little longer in this wonderful sport.”

Szczesny had announced his retirement last summer when Juventus decided he would no longer be in the squad and he wasn’t prepared to move to Saudi Arabia, but was called back out when Marc-Andre ter Stegen suffered a serious knee injury.