Inter Milan’s Champions League hero Davide Frattesi revealed after Tuesday night’s instant classic of a semi-final clash just how much he had put into his side’s momentous win, admitted he almost ‘had a blackout’.
Inter beat Barcelona 4-3 in extra-time to seal a 7-6 aggregate win in the semi-finals of the Champions League, and earning their spot in a second final in the competition in three years.
After a fantastic 3-3 clash in the first leg, Inter found themselves 2-0 up at half-time, before an incredible Barca comeback to lead 3-2 on the night by 90 minutes on Tuesday night.
But then, incredibly, veteran 37-year-old defender Francesco Acerbi scored his first ever European goal in the 93rd minute to force extra time, with Frattesi then netting in the 99th minute.
Barca were unable to find another equaliser and by the time the full-time whistle went, Inter were in the Champions League final, and the Catalan giants were crushed.
Naturally, with the game played at San Siro, Frattesi’s strike in extra-time sparked mayhem, with the Inter players rushing to the side of the pitch, climbing a metal gate to try and celebrate with the fans.
Davide Frattesi has revealed he almost suffered a ‘blackout’ from celebrating too hard
The Italian midfielder scored the eventual winner in extra-time as Inter beat Barcelona 4-3
Frattesi and Lautaro Martinez then climbed a metal gate to celebrate his goal with their fans
The midfielder in particular looked almost possessed as he roared at the tifosi in the stands, and later revealed that as a result of his exertions he very nearly passed out.
‘I was fortunate to see out the game, as I was celebrating so much I was dizzy and nearly had a blackout!’ the hero of the night admitted.
‘I have to thank the physios, because yesterday I had an abdominal strain, so they did incredibly work getting me fit for this match.
‘It’s just incredible, I don’t know what to say. I thought after the Bayern Munich game I couldn’t repeat that emotion, but it was even more incredible tonight. This is the beauty of football.
‘This has been my career, really. I wasn’t blessed with incredible talent, but I am the last to give up and the first to believe, so this is a reward for effort and dedication.’
Frattesi had started on the bench on the night, but would write his name into Inter’s already long and storied history with his crucial strike, with the clock approaching midnight in local time.
Despite Barcelona arguably being the favourites – given the stunning form of Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and of course Lamine Yamal this season – Inter were only behind across both legs for six minutes.
Even with their talisman Lautaro Martinez struggling with a hamstring injury though Inter held firm and cast aside their fellow treble-chasers and will now take on the winner of Arsenal’s trip to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday evening.
Lamine Yamal was the star of the show in both legs but his Barcelona couldn’t get past Inter
The Italian giants will now face the winner of Arsenal’s clash with Paris Saint-Germain
‘I couldn’t believe it, but once we were on 3-3, I told Marcus don’t worry, we’ll go through,’ Frattesi added.
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‘I was exhausted even before I came off the bench, as we were standing up and screaming constantly, with hands in our hair at every move, so we practically played along with them!’
Prior to Acerbi’s late equaliser, a number of unlucky Inter fans had already raced out of the stadium and were forced to beg stewards to allow them to return with little success.
A video posted by TNT Sports on X shows a small group of fans hopelessly pleading with a steward outside the 80,000 seat stadium.
The unfortunate Inter fans missed a tense end to a spectacular semi-final which saw Simone Inzhagi’s side reach the Champions League final for the second time in three seasons.
