Simone Inzaghi: Players Like Yamal Born Every 50 Years

Lamine Yamal performed brilliantly for Barcelona, Inter Milan coach to praise (Instagram/@fcbarcelona).

JAKARTA - Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi praised Barcelona striker Lamine Yamal as a phenomenon that appears once every 50 years after his team drew 3-3 in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final at the Olympic Lluis Companys on Thursday, May 1, 2025, early morning WIB.

Inter took a 2-0 quick lead in 21 minutes through goals from Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfries, but were offset before a break by Barcelona inspired by Yamal on the 17-year-old's 100th appearance for the club.

Yamal scored Barcelona's first goal with an amazing solo effort.Ferran Torres then equalized before Dumfries' second goal that night and Yann Sommer's own goal made the match end in a draw ahead of the second leg at Giuseppe Meazza in the middle of next week.

"I'm proud to see how a fantastic team of players come here and produce that form against the most attacking and fit team in the world."

"Barcelona has a (Yamal) player who is difficult to stop. We started well, but in the last 25 minutes he created a lot of trouble."

"He's a player I've never seen in person and we have to double it."

"He is a phenomenon that is born every 50 years. He really impressed me today," Inzaghi said in a press conference after the match.

Yamal's 15th goal of the season has raised the spirits of the hosts after a difficult start.

He also hit the crossbar twice, tortured left-back Federico Dimarco, and created several chances for his teammates.

The teenager's appearance was even more extraordinary considering there were doubts before the match regarding his fitness after feeling muscle pain while warming up.

"He felt (something) a little bit, but everything was checked and he got the green light (to play)."

"I think Lamine, in the first half, was very important to us because he created a lot of positive things and scored the first goal."

"In a big game, he showed his quality. I think he's special. He's a genius."

"I think he's also enjoying the situation at this great opportunity. I'm very happy that the talent that comes every 50 years can play for Barcelona," said Barcelona coach Hansi Flick.

Barcelona need all of Yamal's genius to fight Inter who are sometimes able to master the game.

Thuram opened the scoring after just 30 seconds and Dumfries doubled Inter's lead from a corner after 21 minutes.

Dumfries scored again from set pieces to restore their lead after Barcelona bounced back.

The Serie A team should have won the game after Raphinha's long-range shot bounced off Sommer's back to equalize to 3-3.

In his account, Henrikh Mkhitaryan's shot was disallowed because offside and Pau Cubarsi did a brilliant tackle that thwarted Thuram's chance to score.

While Yamal's shot hit the crossbar and Sommer thwarted Raphinha's attempt with a save with his finger.

"Inter has played together for five years, you can see it. The way they change positions, they have fast players, their dead balls are incredible."

"They are a very good team. We know they are one of the best teams in Europe in terms of dead balls."

"If you look at how high they are, but we have to hold on better. We'll do it next week. Final before final," Flick said.

Both teams suffered an injury setback. Barcelona lost right-back Jules Kunde in the first half and Inter captain Lautaro Martinez was pulled out in the first half.

Inzaghi said Martinez had doubts about appearing in the second leg, but even without the Argentine forward, Barcelona knew they would fight hard.

"It will be difficult, like this game. There was a very good period tonight and a time when we struggled because we were against a team like Barcelona."

"However, they are also aware that they are against the great Inter and are very difficult to beat," said Inzaghi.

The winner will face Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal in the final in Munich on May 31, 2025.

PSG won the first match with a score of 1-0 in London on Wednesday, April 29, 2025.