PSG is on the brink of potentially winning the Champions League for the first time in their history. However, Luis Enrique's side faces a formidable challenge in Simone Inzaghi's Inter, who have already knocked out tournament favorites Barcelona.
The Champions League final will take place on May 31 at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
Inter was not initially seen as a strong contender for the final. Despite finishing fourth in the group stage and conceding only one goal, the Milan team was rated lower than Bayern and especially Barcelona. Against PSG, the Italians will also be considered underdogs.
PSG had a challenging start in the Champions League, but ultimately, Luis Enrique's squad eliminated three Premier League teams and could become the second manager after Pep Guardiola to win a treble with two different clubs. Adding intrigue to the match is the fact that PSG could win the Champions League in their first season without Mbappe. There's a chance, as Luis Enrique has won his last ten finals.
PSG
PSG has become the first French club to reach the Champions League final twice since the 1992/93 season. In the group stage, Luis Enrique's team collected 13 points (4 wins, 1 draw, 3 losses) and finished only 15th, but in the playoffs, the team performed excellently, securing six wins and losing only twice. In the semi-finals, they defeated Arsenal in both legs – 1-0 and 2-1. It's worth noting that in the 2024/25 Champions League, PSG failed to score in only three matches, with a total of 33 goals, second only to Barcelona's 43.
- The team has won 9 of their last 11 Champions League matches (2 losses).
- PSG has scored at least two goals in 8 of their last 11 matches in this tournament.
- In 8 of their last 9 Champions League games, PSG has not conceded more than one goal.
PSG Starting Lineup (4-3-3)
Gianluigi Donnarumma – Nuno Mendes, William Pacho, Marquinhos, Achraf Hakimi – Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, Joao Neves – Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele.
Inter
Inter has been consistent throughout the tournament. In the group stage, Simone Inzaghi's team remained unbeaten in 7 out of 8 matches (6 wins, 1 draw) and finished fourth, conceding only one goal. The Italians advanced through the playoffs without any losses, and their semi-final clash with Barcelona was a highlight of the tournament: both matches ended 3-3 in regular time, with Davide Frattesi's goal in the 99th minute sending Inter to their third Champions League final in the 21st century. Additionally, the team leads the tournament in clean sheets (8).
- Both teams scored in Inter's last five Champions League games.
- The Italians are unbeaten in eight matches in this tournament (5 wins and 3 draws in regular time).
- In their last seven Champions League matches, the club has scored at least two goals.
Inter Starting Lineup (3-5-2)
Yann Sommer – Benjamin Pavard, Alessandro Bastoni, Francesco Acerbi – Federico Dimarco, Hakan Calhanoglu, Nicolo Barella, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Denzel Dumfries – Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram.
Referee
Istvan Kovacs (Romania)
Matches – 12 (International matches, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 38;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.2;
Red cards shown – 3;
Average fouls per match – 21;
Penalties – 17%.
Match Prediction: PSG vs. Inter
Simone Inzaghi's Inter is known for their solid defensive play. In this tournament, the Milan side matched their 2022/23 season record for clean sheets in the Champions League. However, most of these matches were in the group stage. In the playoffs, the Italians kept a clean sheet only in the first game against Feyenoord, after which they conceded in five consecutive matches. Their encounter with Barcelona, featuring 13 goals, tied the record for the most goals in a Champions League playoff. Inter compensates for their defensive issues with high scoring: their goal-scoring streak in the Champions League now stands at eight matches. Lautaro Martinez deserves mention as he has become the first Inter player to score 20 goals in this European competition.
PSG also boasts a recognized goal-scorer. Ousmane Dembele has been involved in 12 of PSG's goals in this tournament, setting a record for all players from French clubs in history. Overall, the team's attack has been impressive, ranking second in scoring in the 2024/25 Champions League. However, Luis Enrique's side has been conceding goals consistently this season. Notably, Arsenal accumulated a total of 4.53 xG in their semi-final clash with the French side. Therefore, I believe another club with strong attacking capabilities can also challenge PSG's defense.
Both teams play with flair in attack, so I anticipate a high-scoring final. My prediction: Both teams to score – Yes
