As the curtain prepares to fall on another gripping European club football season, all eyes turn to Munich on Saturday night where Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan will clash in a Champions League final that promises intrigue and intensity in equal measure.
For PSG, the night represents a shot at rewriting history. Long considered the nearly-men of the competition, the Parisians are still chasing their maiden crown.
On the other side, Inter Milan, a club steeped in continental success, will aim to capture a fourth European title and reaffirm their status as one of the Champions League’s true titans.
While some fans may have hoped for a different pairing, this matchup is as intriguing as any in recent memory. Both sides have charted contrasting paths to reach this stage, and their differing footballing philosophies only add to the suspense.
PSG’s attacking flair and fluid football have dazzled observers throughout the knockout rounds.
In contrast, Inter’s calculated, tactically astute approach has seen them frustrate some of Europe’s biggest names, including Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
There’s plenty on the line. PSG are a single victory away from completing a historic treble, the first ever by a French side.
Meanwhile, Inter arrive in Bavaria eager to avoid ending the campaign without silverware after dreams of their own treble fell apart just weeks ago.
Back in November, PSG looked far from final contenders. Slipping perilously close to missing out on the knockout rounds altogether, there was even murmuring about the future of head coach, Luis Enrique.
Yet the team’s revival in 2025 has been extraordinary. Since January, no side in Europe has matched PSG’s dominance.
They strolled to another Ligue 1 title and lifted the Coupe de France after dispatching Reims with ease. Now, one final hurdle remains before what could be a perfect campaign for a club whose Qatari ownership has long craved continental validation.
Enrique’s men would be wholly deserving of the crown too, after all the noise that has been made about their pedigree at this level, and the letdowns they have suffered in recent years, because they have gone to Anfield and the Emirates and won on their journey through the knockouts, while also showing resilience to hold off Aston Villa in the quarter-finals.
For French football, continental glory has been elusive. Marseille remain the only Ligue 1 club to have lifted the Champions League trophy. Intriguingly, that 1993 triumph also took place in Munich and came against a Milan-based opponent, AC Milan.
History may yet smile on PSG. Each of the four previous finals held in Munich saw a new winner crowned. Nottingham Forest, Marseille, Borussia Dortmund, and Chelsea all claimed their first titles there. Could PSG be next?
Though PSG were the last French side to win a European trophy, in the now-defunct Cup Winners’ Cup in 1996, they lost their only Champions League final in 2020 to Bayern Munich.
Coincidentally, Inter also experienced heartbreak in their most recent final appearance, falling to Manchester City in Istanbul in 2023.
That defeat means on all three occasions Inter have lost a UCL final, it has been against a club that won the treble, something PSG will manage with a win here, however, the Italian giants have plenty of history to fall back on, with three Champions League triumphs already stored away.
Inter, having slipped up in both Serie A and the Coppa Italia, arrive in Munich hungry for redemption. They were dreaming of a treble themselves just a month ago, after a breathtaking 7-6 aggregate win over Barcelona in the semi-finals.
Though those hopes have faded, a Champions League title alone would rank among the club’s greatest accomplishments, especially given their underdog status at the season’s outset.
Recent form, however, has raised eyebrows. Inter edged out Bayern with a key away win but stumbled domestically, losing to Bologna and Roma, and letting the title slip after dropping points to Lazio. A Coppa Italia exit at the hands of Milan added to the sting.
Nonetheless, they’ve grown since last year’s final loss. Lautaro Martinez, who has led the charge all season, has made it a mission to put that Istanbul defeat behind them.
Inter’s strength is that they so often find themselves in control of games, having taken the lead in 11 of their 14 Champions League games this season, while they have only trailed for a combined seven minutes – in injury time versus Bayer Leverkusen in the league phase, and late on against Barcelona in the second leg of their semi-final before Francesco Acerbi’s leveller.
Coming into the final, PSG are listed as slight favourites, but underestimating Inter—who already defied expectations against Bayern and Barca—would be a mistake.
Form guides offer little clarity. PSG enter the clash with five wins in their last six matches, while Inter remain unbeaten in their past six outings across all competitions.
Paris Saint-Germain Champions League form:
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Inter Milan Champions League form:
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Team News
In an almost unprecedented stroke of fortune, both managers have nearly full squads to select from. The only notable absentee is PSG’s Presnel Kimpembe, who has been sidelined most of the season.
Luis Enrique’s lineup could closely resemble the one that outclassed Arsenal. Ousmane Dembele, benched in the second leg of that semi-final, is expected to start this time.
The decision may now lie between Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola to complete the attacking trio with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who is virtually guaranteed a place.
On Inter’s side, returning from injury, Benjamin Pavard and Piotr Zielinski are back in training and likely to feature. Captain Martinez, who last played through injury in the win over Barcelona, should be fully fit after his recovery. Simone Inzaghi also gave his regular starters a rest during their final Serie A match against Como.
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting XI:
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Joao Neves, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia
Inter Milan possible starting XI:
Sommer; Bisseck, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez
The final promises to be cagey and closely contested, mirroring much of both teams’ journeys so far. With little to separate the sides, extra time—or even penalties—could very well determine the winner.
Both clubs have been involved in tense, tight encounters throughout the competition, and the final should prove no different, with penalties a real possibility, and PSG’s ruthless edge away to Liverpool on spot kicks in the last 16 could give them the slight advantage in that regard.
Whoever emerges victorious in Munich will etch their name into football history—either as first-time champions or as proud restorers of legacy.
