Inter Milan just millimetres from pulling off memorable win at the Nou Camp as Italians play out thrilling 3-3 draw with Barcelona in Champions League semi-final first leg

Barcelona came from behind twice against Inter Milan to ensure a 3-3 draw in their Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday night.

The Serie A side came agonisingly close to sealing a win on the night after Henrikh Mkhitaryan poked home late in the second half – but the linesman had his flag up. 

A brief check from VAR and the semi-automated offside technology showed that the Armenian was just millimetres beyond Barcelona’s final defender before shooting. 

It proved to be the difference between a draw and a victory for the visitors – with neither side able to find a breakthrough in the latter stage of the game. 

The visitors took the lead at the Estadi de Montjuic within the first minute of the game after Marcus Thuram provided a neat flick to stun the home crowd into silence. 

Inter doubled their advantage in the 21st minute after full-back Denzel Dumfries pulled off a stunning scissor kick inside the penalty area following a corner. 

However, Barcelona hit back just three minutes later after Lamine Yamal produced a moment of magic and danced through the Inter defenders before firing into the net. 

The 17-year-old was electric throughout the night and continued to defy expectations as he battled with opponents, literally, twice his age – and did it all with ease.

The LaLiga leaders were level in the 38th minute after former Man City winger Ferran Torres latched onto a header inside the penalty area and neatly poked home.

However, in the second half, Inter restored their advantage through Dumfries again after the Netherlands international rose highest to head home from a corner. 

The final twist on the evening saw former Leeds star Raphinha rifle a 25-yard effort off the crossbar and onto the back of Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer 

Mkhitaryan thought he’d stolen all three points for the visitors in the 76th minute however VAR’s intervention saw the effort ruled out and the spoils shared.

Though Inter’s Dumfries scored twice, the star man of the night was Barcelona’s teenage sensation Yamal – who lit up the pitch with his bag of tricks and creativity.

After dispossessing Thuram, he breezed past Mkhitaryan and used Alessandro Bastoni almost as a reference point, curling the shot around the defender into the net.

Rio Ferdinand and Ally McCoist were both full of praise for Yamal on TNT Sports commentary for the game, with McCoist giving him potentially the highest praise possible.

‘Once he gets that half yard, that’s absolute genius, that’s what it is,’ McCoist said. ‘Genius. What a treat this is.’

Ferdinand added: ‘This kid the taking the mick. He is taking liberties on the biggest stage. Every time Barcelona get the chance to open them up, they look to the youngest player in their team.

‘This is why we are here. You want to see brilliance, mesmeric performances and moments. The youngest man on the pitch has produced it.’

Before the game, Yamal appeared to suffer a groin issue during the warm-up, and he headed town the tunnel early without his team-mates.

Yamal was seen speaking to a coach and holding his groin, before stretching out in a bid to solve the issue. It appeared to happen when he slipped while he was taking a shot in the warm-ups.

He removed his shirt and headed down the tunnel, but UEFA confirmed there were no changes to the line-up and Yamal walked out with his team as expected.

His 100th appearance was confirmed as the first whistle was blown, and the teenager was running early on without any signs of real issue.

Ferdinand also heaped praise on him before the game, saying: ‘We had a walk down to the city centre but you can tell there is a superstar in this town.

‘A void was left when Lionel Messi left. I’m not saying he is a ready-made replacement, but he is doing things at 17 we have never ever seen before.’