Arsene Wenger believes Barcelona were on the wrong end of a huge mistake from the officials during a remarkable Champions League semi-final defeat to Inter Milan.
Barca came from two goals down, just as they did in the first leg in Spain, and looked to have booked their place in the final when Raphinha scored an 87th-minute goal to put the visitors 3-2 up on the night and 6-5 up on aggregate.
But Inter Milan’s 37-year-old defender Francesco Acerbi, thrown up front in the dying minutes, turned home a dramatic equaliser to take one of the most entertaining Champions League ties in memory to extra-time.
The late equaliser gave Inter renewed energy and the Serie A giants scored what turned out to be an extra-time winner through Davide Frattesi.
After a thrilling 3-3 draw in Spain, Inter Milan appeared to take control of the semi-final tie by going 2-0 up on the night and 5-3 up on aggregate in the opening 45 minutes of the second leg at the San Siro.
Lautaro Martinez, an injury doubt coming into the match, put Inter Milan ahead from a well-worked goal before the striker won a penalty on the stroke of half-time which Hakan Calhanoglu slotted home.
Inter were awarded a spot-kick following a VAR review after Pau Cubarsi was adjudged to have tripped Martinez as he raced through on goal.
Referee Szymon Marciniak initially waved away Inter’s appeals but was advised to take a look at the pitchside monitor by VAR and overturned his decision.
Ex-Arsenal manager Wenger disagreed with the call, however, and said Martinez bought the penalty.
‘I am highly against these kind of penalties and I am highly against using the slow-motion,’ Wenger told beIN SPORTS.
‘At normal pace, this is a great tackle, he’s first on the ball. Why does he touch him?
‘Look what Lautaro is doing. He leans into him, he looks for the penalty, he knows he cannot score because he feels the defender there.
‘The referee, in this situation, has not made the right decision. He [Cubarsi] is first to the ball and that’s what counts for me.
‘The rest is done by Lautaro. It doesn’t matter if there’s contact, it’s who plays the ball and who wins the ball first.’
Barcelona endured more penalty frustration later in the game after a spot-kick they were awarded for a foul on the lively Lamine Yamal was downgraded to a free-kick on the edge of the box following another VAR check.
Inter Milan’s sensational victory over Barcelona means they will contest the 2025 Champions League final on May 31 against either Premier League side Arsenal or French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
PSG boast a 1-0 lead over the Gunners ahead of their semi-final second leg in Paris on Wednesday night.
While Barcelona’s Champions League hopes have been dashed, they remain on course to win La Liga, currently sitting four points clear of Real Madrid with four games to play.
Hansi Flick’s side, who have excited fans with some breathtaking football in the Champions League, also won the Copa del Rey, beating arch-rivals Madrid in the final.
Reacting to Inter’s famous win and Barca’s heartbreaking defeat, Premier League all-time record goalscorer Alan Shearer said: ‘Thank you Inter Milan and thank you Barcelona.
‘You’ve provided us with incredible entertainment and two great football matches. What we have witnessed has been something very special.’
Former England striker Daniel Sturridge added: ‘It’s going to be a party tonight. Special game. Can we watch these teams play every game?
‘It is so good the match-up. This will be a memory that will last forever in these fans minds. It was such a special game to experience.’
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