Epic stats after an epic night in Milan
The Italians reached their seventh European Cup/Champions League final with a rugged and intelligent victory over the highly-talented Catalans and there are a host of fascinating statistics to enjoy as the dust settles on what will go down as one of the greatest semi-finals in the competition's illustrious history. Here are the pick of them!
(Un)lucky for some
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Let's kick off with the number of goals scored in the tie: a 3-3 draw in Catalonia preceding last night's 4-3 success for the Nerazzurri in Milan. This marks only the second time in the entire history of the Champions League that a semi-final ended with 13 goals scored on aggregate.
Only the Liverpool and Roma semi-final in the 2017/2018 edition (5-2 for the Reds in the first leg and 4-2 for the Giallorossi in the return) can match last night in terms of sheer goals scored.
In fact, across all of the knockout rounds in the modern Champions League era (i.e. from the 1992/1993 season), 13 goals have only been hit on only one other occasion: when Bayern Munich thrashed Sporting 12-1 on aggregate in the round of 16 in 2008/2009.
Dumfries, the unlikely protagonist
Absolutely key for Simone Inzaghi's victors, right-back Denzel Dumfries was the main outlet of the Nerazzurri attack over the two legs against Barcelona. The Dutch full-back was decisive in Catalonia and Milan and achieved an unprecedented feat for a player in his position in the process.
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With two goals and an assist in Barcelona, and two more assists at the San Siro, Dumfries recorded five direct goal involvements in the semi-final stage, a feat achieved by precious few in the history of the Champions League.
The only one who has actually surpassed the Dutchman in this context is the legendary Alessandro Del Piero, who scored four goals and provided two assists for Juventus in knockout matches against Monaco in the 1997/1998 season. An honourable mention also goes to Brazilian Roberto Firmino, who scored two goals and supplied three assists over two legs against Roma in 2017/2018.
Experience tells in the end
With an average age of over 26-years-old, Inter have an experienced squad and they reaped the benefits in the semi-final in decisive moments. In stoppage time, when the Italians were losing 3-2, 37-year-old defender Francesco Acerbi appeared seemingly from nowhere to blast Dumfries' cross into the back of the net to force extra time.
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That goal from Acerbi brought up another important milestone in the history of the Champions League. The number 15 became the third-oldest player to score in a semi-final in Europe's premier competition, only legends such as Ryan Giggs and Di Stefano netting goals at more advanced stages in their careers.
Here's the list of the 'Top 5' old boys!
- 37 years, 10 months: Di Stefano (1964)
- 37 years, 4 months: Giggs (2011)
- 37 years, 2 months: Acerbi (2025)
- 37 years, 1 month, 23 days: Dzeko (2023)
- 37 years, 1 month, 5 days: Puskas (1964)
Inzaghi's moment
Simone Inzaghi went through every conceivable emotion last night during Inter's rollercoaster win and he also clocked up an historic stat.
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A finalist with Inter in the 2022/2023 season, the Italian is now only the second coach to reach two Champions League finals with the Nerazzurri (after legendary Argentine coach Helenio Herrera, who reached and won back-to-back finals in 1963/1964 and 1964/1965).
Raphinha's remarkable record
Despite having to swallow the bitter pill of elimination, Raphinha certainly left his mark on this season's competition.
After his strike last night, the Brazilian reached a total of 21 goal involvements in the current edition of Europe's premier club competition: 13 goals and eight assists.
To highlight the magnitude of this achievement, only Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo (17 goals and four assists) has had such a decisive season in terms of goal involvements in the Champions League.
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However, in Ronaldo's case there was a happy ending: CR7 scored in the final as he led Real Madrid to a 4-1 victory over Atletico Madrid in the 2013/14 final.
Raphinha is currently the Champions League's top scorer in 2024/25, alongside Guirassy of Dortmund, and also tops the assist charts.
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