Inter Milan defender Francesco Acerbi scored the goal that tied Barcelona 3-3 in the Champions League semi-final.
One of Barcelona’s tormentors in the Champions League has a story that goes far beyond football. Defender Francesco Acerbi was the protagonist in Inter Milan‘s qualification against Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday (7/5), after suffering from cancer twice and problems with alcohol consumption. A seven-goal performance capped the second leg of the Champions League semi-final at the San Siro.
The home team Inter Milan took a 2-0 lead, suffered the comeback and sought to make it 3-3 in stoppage time, with a saving goal by Acerbi. In extra time, Barcelona succumbed, and Frattesi put the ball in the net, defining the 4-3 and the Italians’ place in the Champions League final. But before this major sporting obstacle, the 37-year-old Italian defender had to deal with situations that went beyond the four lines of the football field.
In July 2013, Acerbi was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his testicles. He returned to playing sports at the end of the year, but the cancer returned, and the Italian retired from football once again.
In addition to the disease, the defender had problems with alcoholism during his career. Acerbi even admitted that he would arrive at some training sessions drunk and that he “didn’t respect the work, the people who paid him, and even himself.” However, the athlete said that cancer made him change the course of his career.
Acerbi’s season
At 37, Acerbi had the most incredible night of his career when he scored a winning goal in injury time in a Champions League semifinal. In a career that has only featured for Italian clubs, the defender has played for Pavia, Renate, Spezia, Reggina, Chievo, Milan, Sassuolo and Lazio before joining Internazionale in 2022/23.
Interestingly, the goal against Barcelona was Acerbi’s first of the season. The defender has already made 29 appearances and provided three assists, as well as the only goal, against Barcelona.
