Inter Milan stunned the home crowd with an early and exquisite opening goal within the first minute. A perfectly weighted cross from Denzel Dumfries found Marcus Thuram, who displayed brilliant improvisation with a sublime back-heel finish that nestled into the Barcelona net, giving the visitors an early 1-0 advantage.
Barcelona's initial struggles compounded just 21 minutes later when Dumfries doubled Inter's lead. Following a header from Francesco Acerbi inside the box, Dumfries was on hand to deliver a clinical strike, leaving Barcelona reeling and facing a daunting 2-0 scoreline.
However, the Catalan giants began to find their footing and claw their way back into the contest. Barcelona's prodigious young talent, Lamine Yamal, ignited the comeback in the 24th minute with a moment of individual brilliance. A dazzling solo run culminated in a precise shot that cannoned off the left post and into the net, reducing the deficit to 2-1 and injecting renewed hope into the Camp Nou faithful.
The teenage sensation, Yamal, continued to pose a significant threat, forcing a fantastic save from Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer just three minutes later with a rising shot. Barcelona's relentless pressure eventually paid dividends in the 38th minute. Raphinha delivered a pinpoint cross into the box, and Ferran Torres made no mistake, calmly slotting the ball past Sommer to restore parity at 2-2, sending the Camp Nou into a frenzy.
The second half saw the drama intensify further. Inter Milan once again seized the lead in the 64th minute when Dumfries, proving a constant aerial threat, rose highest to meet a corner kick and powered a header past the Barcelona goalkeeper, making the score 3-2 in favor of the visitors.
But Barcelona's resilience was unwavering. Less than a minute after conceding, Raphinha unleashed a venomous strike from outside the box that rattled the Inter crossbar. Lady luck then smiled on Barcelona as the rebound ricocheted off Inter goalkeeper Sommer and into his own net, leveling the score once more at a breathless 3-3.
The final stages of the match were fraught with tension and controversy. Inter Milan believed they had snatched a late winner in the 75th minute when Henrikh Mkhitaryan found the back of the net. However, the jubilation was short-lived as a VAR review determined an offside infringement in the build-up, sparking vehement protests from the Inter bench.
Barcelona continued their relentless pursuit of a winning goal. In the 79th minute, Raphinha's well-struck free kick was narrowly kept out by a determined Sommer. The dying minutes saw Barcelona create further opportunities, but Sommer's heroics in goal, including a spectacular reflex save to deny a late Raphinha strike in injury time, ensured the scoreline remained unchanged.
Ultimately, after a captivating and emotionally charged encounter, Barcelona and Inter Milan were forced to settle for a thrilling 3-3 draw in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final. With the tie finely balanced and everything still to play for, the return leg promises to be a high-stakes battle filled with even more drama as both European giants vie for a coveted spot in the Champions League final.