The curtain will fall on the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League season on Saturday as Paris Saint-Germain take on Inter Milan in a highly anticipated final at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
The encounter will mark PSG’s second-ever Champions League final appearance, after their 2020 defeat to Bayern Munich, while Inter Milan are seeking their fourth title, having last lifted the trophy in 2010.
Luis Enrique’s PSG secured their place in the final by defeating Arsenal 2-1 in Paris, completing a 3-1 aggregate victory in the semifinal.
Inter Milan, on the other hand, came through a dramatic two-legged tie against Barcelona, winning 7-6 on aggregate after extra time in the second leg.
Inter’s run to the final included impressive performances against top opposition.
PSG battled through Ligue 1 this season, winning the French title with a commanding 19-point lead, despite a winless streak in their final three league matches.
They wrapped up their domestic campaign with a convincing 3-0 win over Reims in the French Cup final.
Inter Milan fell just short in their bid to win the Serie A title, finishing second to Napoli after a final-day victory against Como was not enough to close the gap. Napoli’s win against Cagliari sealed their championship.
PSG are in the final with a fully fit squad. Manager Enrique has had the luxury of managing his players’ workload after clinching the league early.
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Inter Milan have concerns over the fitness of Yann Bisseck with knee injury Benjamin Pavard, ankle, and Piotr Zielinski, muscular, but Inzaghi is hopeful of having a full squad.
“My wish is to have everyone available on Saturday evening. We’re going to approach the final in the best possible way,” he stated.
This will be the first competitive meeting between PSG and Inter Milan. Their last encounter came in a pre-season friendly in August 2023, where Inter won 2-1 in Tokyo, thanks to a late goal from Stefano Sensi.
The match will be played at the 75,000-capacity Allianz Arena in Munich, home of Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich. It is the first time Germany has hosted the final since 2012.
The winner of Saturday’s clash will receive €20 million in prize money, while the runner-up will earn €15.5 million.
Kick-off at the Allianz Arena promises a thrilling conclusion to the European season as both sides seek continental glory.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
