Tales of Champions: Nerazzurri Chronicles in Europe | OneFootball

Since the dawn of time, humanity has needed heroes and epic deeds. For millennia, every civilisation has passed down and added to fantastic and mythological tales with its hopes and dreams – stories that inspired the bravest people to chase glory and triumph like legendary champions. Inter’s European adventure this season has often crossed the boundaries of history, increasingly resembling a heroic saga from forgotten times – a mythological cycle where knights, battles and fantastic creatures enter the everyday lives of ordinary people, turning them into unforgettable, flawless heroes.

A series of extraordinary tales where reality and wonder coexist, just like in the great stories of the past: Tales of Champions, chronicles of the Champions League.

THE SHIP AND THE SNAKE

This is the opening chapter in the saga of the Nerazzurri Biscione, which has since made waves all over Europe. It involved a showdown at sea against a ship that had been been sailing European waters for years with real strength and skill: the English vessel ‘Manchester City’, with a fearsome Norwegian onboard. His name was Erling Braut Haaland, a relentless striker the Nerazzurri had already faced 15 months earlier by the Bosphorus. But Inter knew how to adapt and fight back. The Biscione transformed into Jǫrmungandr, the serpent from Norse mythology capable of dodging Thor’s attacks. It held its ground and battled toe-to-toe. There was no clear winner in Manchester, but Inter sent a message, as seen in Nicolò Barella’s MVP award and Francesco Acerbi’s cheeky smile at Haaland after the game. This Inter side was ready to take on anyone.

THE RED STAR HUNTING

In myths, stories can be very different and seemingly unrelated: some take place in distant, fascinating lands, while others unfold within one’s own castle. The second tale in this saga had several heroes and a single foe: Crvena zvezda, the Red Star to conquer inside the fortress of San Siro. It was an adventure where the Nerazzurri Biscione struck the first blows of its campaign: a masterpiece from Calhanoglu, finishes from Arnautovic and Taremi, and Lautaro’s first goal of the European campaign, witnessed by Diego Milito, his ancient master of arms. But the night belonged to Mehdi, elusive like an ancient Persian knight: a goal, two assists and the Man of the Match award. First goals, first clean sheet and first win: the fortress had been defended, and the journey could resume.

INTO THE WOODS

Among the mountains, rivers and forests of Switzerland lies a city defended by a yellow-and-black force. Bern, the city of bears, hosts noble, powerful creatures, capable of striking when least expected. On a cold night, the Biscione struggled to overcome Young Boys at the historic Stadion Wankdorf, a stadium etched into football legend after the unforgettable 1954 World Cup final. To succeed here, you need boldness and the ability to strike on the synthetic turf without warning. And that’s exactly what Marcus Thuram did. A bolt from the blue, just when it seemed time ad run out. It was a decisive blow to secure a hard-earned victory for Inter.

A TALE OF TWO CITIES

Milano and London, the Biscione and the Gunners, Inter and Arsenal: the fourth chapter in this saga pitted two great rivals against each other – different, yet united by the same winning spirit. To face a team of Cannoneers, forged in steel and fire, unbreakable unity is required, the kind the Nerazzurri showed at San Siro early in November. The battle was tough and tense, but Inter withstood the pressure and fought back. To tame a fire, you need an ice-cold presence like Calhanoglu, who struck the decisive blow with a penalty just before half-time. That was the turning point: the Biscione wrapped its coils tightly around every attack. Everyone contributed, defending relentlessly, ball after ball, until the final whistle. It was the midway point of the League Phase, and one of the strongest foes had been conquered. However, the best was yet to come.

IN THE HEART OF THE CITY – ON THE RIVERBANKS

Two German opponents – Leipzig and Leverkusen – stood in the way, strong and energetic creatures to overcome in order to end 2024 on a high.

First, the Red Bull arrived: young, powerful and full of fight as it roamed the streets of Milano. The Biscione needed another great performance to defend its home once again. At San Siro, Inter played with intense focus and discipline. The serpent struck with its venom early on: Dimarco’s free-kick was deflected into the net by Leipzig defender Lukeba. Die Roten Bullen tried to find a weak spot in the Biscione’s defence, but Inter only allowed one shot on target, and that was expertly saved by the guardian in goal, Yann Sommer.

This resilience was tested again in Leverkusen, on the banks of the Rhine, where Xabi Alonso’s lions lay in wait. Despite another solid performance, Inter suffered their first and only defeat so far, with Mukiele’s last-minute goal – the only one Inter conceded during the league phase – piercing the Biscione’s scales. However, it wasn’t going to throw the Nerazzurri off track.

THE CASTLE OF THE NORTH

Prague is dominated by a castle that watches over the city from a hilltop. Over the centuries, this city has witnessed ideas, battles, revolutions and influential artistic movements. The cold was biting hard in January, and breaching such a well-defended fortress was never going to be easy. The strike of a champion was needed, a move born from skill and coordination: Lautaro Martinez, captain and leader of the Nerazzurri, rose to the occasion against Sparta. The fortress fell. Winter had arrived but Inter were ready and eager to march on.

THE CLOSED GATES

Just one challenge remained to close the first chapter of the saga: the Biscione needed to defend its castle against the assault of a brave and noble prince clad in white and red. Monaco were fighting to continue their European journey, while Inter were aiming to finish the league phase in the top four. The final matchday was a whirlwind of emotions, with all the fixtures being played simultaneously. On a starry night, Lautaro Martinez’s star shone brightest. The captain scored a hat-trick to brush Monaco aside and, in doing so, matched Nerazzurri legend Sandro Mazzola’s tally of 17 goals in Inter’s Champions League scoring charts. Eight games, six wins, one draw, only one goal conceded and a total of 19 points: Inzaghi’s men finished fourth and soared into the round of 16. The Nerazzurri were ready for new extraordinary feats.

THROUGH THE WATERS OF THE NAVIGLI

The saga would only become even more epic in the knockout stages. The journey began among the canals of Rotterdam, where a small corsair ship moved silently but swiftly. Feyenoord were manoeuvring in familiar waters, and the Biscione needed to adapt by shedding its skin and undergoing a transformation. Josep Martinez was selected between the sticks, while Alessandro Bastoni played out wide. Both were excellent. Up front were Thuram and Lautaro, Inter’s assault knights, whose goals secured a 2-0 victory. Tikus found the net with a fine finish, while El Toro became the Nerazzurri’s all-time top scorer in the Champions League.

However, the job was far from done: the Dutch crew continued sailing, pushing on towards the Navigli. These were waters they’d already crossed in the play-offs and where they’d pulled off great feats before. But Inter kept their composure: a brilliant goal from Thuram saw Inter take another step towards qualification, while a flawless penalty from Calhanoglu clinched the win after Feyenoord had found an equaliser. And so began another kind of journey: in the quarter-finals, the Nerazzurri were required to enter an arena in Bavaria.

THE BAVARIAN ARENA

A team on a mission, facing one of the toughest opponents possible in an arena where the hosts hadn’t been beaten in four years. Bayern, a special team, were built to go all the way and wanted to carry on a journey that was destined to end in this very stadium. But Inter had the same objective, and the Biscione knew how to inflict damage and unleash deadly bursts of speed. Lautaro Martinez dealt a blow in the first half, a strike that could have been fatal to anyone else, but not to the Bavarians. In the final moments, Thomas Müller, the seasoned captain and veteran of countless battles with the Munich-based side, bagged an equaliser. It looked like the match would end in a draw, but fate had other plans. Suddenly, Inter took the lead again through Davide Frattesi in the 88th minute – the very moment a famous Macedonian explorer had knocked the Bavarians out in the same arena 14 years earlier. A goal written in the stars and a deeply moving moment for Davide. The return leg was still to come, but Inter had the advantage.

Eight days later, the fortress of San Siro was battered by a cold wind, with relentless rain pouring down on the battlefield. The Biscione had to dig deep, resisting the immense power of the Bavarians, who came to Italy like a fearless band of Landsknechts. Milano held firm until Harry Kane, a noble warrior from across the sea seeking a long-awaited triumph, struck. But Inter absorbed the blow and fought back quickly: another goal from the unstoppable Lautaro levelled the match, and then Benjamin Pavard nodded home to give Inter the lead. A header that felt like a cannonball breaking through the Bavarian gate. It was Pavard’s first goal for Inter, and it came against a team where he’d starred for four seasons. The wind played a cruel trick, allowing Dier to make it 2-2, but Inter had the strength to hold on and qualify for the semi-finals for the second time in three years. On the horizon was a huge battle against the formidable Catalan warriors of Barcelona.

UNDER CATALUNIA’S MOONLIGHT

On a spring night, the Biscione found itself in a familiar yet different place: a seaside city with endless cathedrals and fantastic monsters adorning the Ramblas. The stage of the battle wasn’t Camp Nou, where echoes of ancient clashes still linger, but the hill of Montjuïc, bathed in the moonlight of Catalonia. It was the perfect atmosphere for something special. In a clash of titans, creativity and skill were on full display. It took just 30 seconds for Thuram to open the scoring with a stunning backheel, before a Dutchman by the name of Denzel Dumfries took centre stage, putting Inter 2-0 ahead. But Barcelona were a brotherhood of wizards and sorcerers with supernatural powers: young Lamine Yamal pulled one back, and then came a goal from Ferran Torres. In the second half, Denzel’s determination soared to new heights as he headed home to make it 3-2, only for Raphinha to respond with yet another piece of magic. And so it ended 3-3. The road to Munich lay ahead for both teams, but only one could travel it by way of San Siro.

THE TEMPLE OF THE SNAKE

Perhaps one day poets across Europe will try to find a way to describe this Inter vs. Barcelona showdown. Here, legend forcefully entered everyday history: men became heroes, the impossible was achieved and the spectators witnessed a miracle. Acerbi’s goal defied explanation and was destiny manifesting itself on the pitch at San Siro. Before this, there were the contributions of Captain Lautaro Martinez, stronger than pain itself, and Hakan Calhanoglu, who held his nerve from the penalty spot in the face of deafening silence. Yet the Blaugrana legion responded, just as they had six days before. Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo restored parity, while Yamal danced unchallenged within the fortress of San Siro. Raphinha’s goal might have ended this epic saga, but instead the story reignited with a whirlwind of emotions thanks to Acerbi’s finish. In extra time, Inter completed the feat: Davide Frattesi, the relentless raider, sent Inter to Munich. A place in the final was secured thanks to the hands of Sommer, who became an impenetrable guardian against every threat. The downpour only made Inter’s triumph more epic as attentions started to turn to the Bavarian Arena again.

THE FINAL CHAPTER

Now comes the final chapter of an incredible story, a legend destined to be passed down through eternity: in Munich, Inter will relive the emotions they first felt two years ago in Turkey as they come up against a Paris Saint-Germain side determined to win. It will be a breathtaking clash, offering unforgettable moments to millions of fans who carry the Biscione in their hearts. Who knows if, once more in Munich, legend will slip into history in ways we can’t yet imagine…