It’s not often you get to enjoy six goals in a single game, it’s even more rare for that to happen in a Champions League semifinal.

But Barcelona and Inter Milan delivered an all-time classic in the first leg last Wednesday, as the European powerhouses clashed at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.

Inter scored two early goals through Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfires to stun Barça into silence – both finishes were worthy of the biggest stage and set the standard for the rest of the night.

The Blaugrana fought back before the end of the first half, led by the precocious Lamine Yamal, who scored a wonderful solo effort to halve the deficit. Ferrán Torres then drew Barcelona level before the interval.

After the break, Inter thought it had once again found a winner through Dumfries’ header but, yet again, it wasn’t enough, as Barça equalized in dramatic fashion.

Before the traveling fans even stopped celebrating going ahead, Raphinha’s stunning effort hit the crossbar and then bounced off goalkeeper Yann Sommer’s back to go over the line.

The drama wasn’t over, though. Henrikh Mkhitaryan thought he had given Inter a 4-3 lead 15 minutes from the end on a counterattack, but the midfielder had fractionally strayed offside. The semi-automated offside system showed Mkhitaryan’s toe was centimeters in an offside position – agonizing for Inter fans.

Neutral fans will be hoping for more of the same in the second leg, with a place in this year’s final at stake.

CNN
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The fan who fell onto the field at PNC Park less than a week ago, identified as Kavan Markwood, took his first steps on Monday since the incident, according to a post on a fundraiser set up by the mother of Markwood’s girlfriend.

Jennifer Phillips, who is the mother of Alonna Brown, said that Markwood’s first steps since the fall “definitely lifted everyone’s spirits” but admitted that he “still has a long way to go.”

“It’s a slow slow process, but seeing him up and moving was a huge win,” Phillips wrote.

“He’s dealing with a broken neck, clavicle, and back so there are plenty of obstacles ahead. But he’s showing real strength, and we’re staying hopeful for a smooth recovery. This will also require plenty of rest and following instructions from the great doctors, nurses and staff at the hospital.”

The incident happened during the seventh inning in a game Wednesday between the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates.

The 20-year-old fell from the right field wall onto the field and was listed in critical condition. Players from both teams could be seen kneeling down, while others put their hands on their heads in concern for Markwood.

The fall is being treated as accidental, police have said.

“Thanks so much for all the love, support, and good vibes. It really means a lot as he keep giving his all to push forward. #KAVANSTRONG,” Phillips continued.

The fundraiser organized to help assist with Markwood’s medical bills has raised nearly $43,000 as of Tuesday morning.

Markwood graduated from South Allegheny High School in 2022. The school, in a post sent to CNN, said he was the team MVP of the football team and earned first team All-Conference honors: “Kavan is best known for his resilience, strength, and kindness. He is a friend to all – someone who lifts others up and faces challenges with courage and grace.”

Markwood played college football at Walsh University and Wheeling University.

CNN
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In a CNN Sports exclusive interview, American skier Lindsey Vonn said that she has proved to herself – and her doubters – that she deserves to be back on the World Cup circuit after taking her first podium since coming out of retirement.

The 40-year-old came second in the super-G at the World Cup finals in March to become the oldest female Alpine skier to make the podium of a World Cup race – by six years.

It was Vonn’s first World Cup podium finish since March 15, 2018 when she placed third in the super-G in Åre, Sweden.

Vonn retired from skiing in February 2019 but announced last year she would be returning to the sport after undergoing a successful partial knee replacement in April 2024.

It’s fair to say even Vonn didn’t think she would return to this level of skiing.

“Never in a million years would I have ever expected to be back here,” she said speaking at the recent Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid. “I mean, when I saw you last, it was emotional because I was ending my career and that was it.

“That was the end, and I definitely wish that it hadn’t been the end because I love skiing and it’s always been my passion since I was a kid, but my body was no longer cooperating.

“Thankfully with this partial knee replacement, now I’m lucky enough to have the chance again – and, hopefully, another Olympics next year.”

Stepping onto that podium was a sliding doors moment in Vonn’s return to the sport she still loves so much.

She admitted there were doubts in her own mind about her decision to make a comeback during a brutal season. Vonn said she weighed 20 pounds less than her previous competition weight, wasn’t “nearly as strong as I was before” and had to deal with new equipment, coaches and trainers.

At times, Vonn admitted the challenges thrown at her felt “insurmountable” and said “it is hard to quantify” just how important getting back onto the podium was for her belief.

“I think that it changes everything,” she explained to CNN. “I think there are a lot of people that thought that I would never be back and I would never be successful again – and I think that I proved to myself, and to them, that I still deserve to be here, no matter if I will be 41 at the next Olympics.

“I cried. I think that (podium) was the hardest I’ve ever cried after a race because it just was so emotional and it meant so much to me – and, actually, I’m going to put it next to my Olympic medal because that’s how much it means to me.

“I’ve never had so many different variables in one season, and I felt like every weekend it was something new, some new challenge was just being thrown at me. And sometimes, I felt like I was beat down and it was hard to find the motivation because I was doing this because I love ski racing, but at times this season, it felt like it was insurmountable.”

Even after so many years away from the sport, Vonn said skiing after her comeback still “feels exactly the same.” Her vast experience and knowledge of the tracks, she explained to CNN Sports, helps level the playing field against competitors “half my age” that would enjoy a physical advantage over the quadragenarian skier.

Initially, Vonn said she wasn’t skiing to “prove anything to anybody” but that changed when she heard “so many negative voices from my peers” during the season.

“That really hurt me and, by the end, I knew that I could do it for myself, but I also wanted to prove it for every 40 year old woman you know that we are not defined by our age,” Vonn said.

“We’re defined by our ability and our work ethic, and I worked as hard as I could to be back to where I got to, and that’s why I felt like I needed to do it to prove to women that we could.

“I love the sport. Like nothing will change it no matter what I do. From the time I was seven years old and I started racing, it’s always been the thing that I just feel the most alive doing.”