Hansi Flick hailed Lamine Yamal after the teenage prodigy produced a scintillating show as Barcelona twice got here from behind to attract 3-3 with Inter Milan in an exhilarating Champions League semi-final first leg at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
The 17-year-old, making his a hundredth Barcelona look, scored a elegant solo effort and twice hit the crossbar on an evening when the 2 groups traded beautiful objectives and Marcus Thuram and Raphinha each made historical past.
“Lamine has proven us the trail we must always observe,” stated Flick after the sport.
“I’m very pleased with the workforce. We should preserve preventing till the top.”
Simply think about these two in the identical facet 💭 pic.twitter.com/vV98Euygda
— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) April 30, 2025
Thuram struck the fasted aim in Champions League semi-final historical past when he discovered the web with an audacious back-heel flick after simply 30 seconds.
Denzel Dumfries then doubled Inter’s benefit with an equally spectacular over-head kick earlier than Yamal halved the deficit when he danced by means of the Inter workforce and curled an effort into the far nook.
The fledgling winger was in impressed type. Ferran Torres levelled shortly earlier than the break from a Raphinha header because the Brazilian twentieth Champions League aim contribution this time period noticed him eclipse Lionel Messi for many in a single season for the Catalan membership.
Dumfries reclaimed Inter’s lead within the second-half however Flick’s facet once more hit again by means of a fierce Raphinha strike that hit the bar earlier than clipping Yann Sommer on its manner in.
Simone Inzaghi’s facet then had a aim dominated out for offside nevertheless it was an evening that belonged to Yamal as Barcelona’s hopes for a treble-winning season stay in tact.
Flick, nonetheless, acknowledged the menace their semi-final opponents from Italy pose.
“We’re speaking a few Champions League semi-final,” stated the Barca boss.
“The groups are nice. They [Inter] have expertise, and so they confirmed it at present. They’d a bonus in set-piece conditions, with 4 or 5 tall gamers, and so they took benefit of it.
“Within the first half we had ups and downs, and the second half was spectacular. In Milan, we’ll play a ultimate earlier than the ultimate.”
Flick and his workforce journey to San Siro to play Inter within the second-leg on Tuesday.