The pinnacle of European football was presented in the form of a captivating clash between PSG and Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final. London’s iconic Wembley Stadium was the perfect venue to bring together two powerhouses with contrasting philosophies – Italian pragmatism meets French footballing beauty. Thousands of fans packed the 90,000-capacity stadium, creating an incredible atmosphere on a night that will go down in football history.
Introduction
Both teams’ journeys to Wembley have been filled with drama and brilliance. Inter Milan, under the brilliant management of Simone Inzaghi, have shown an impressive transformation from the group stage to the final. They overcame tough odds to beat Porto in the round of 16, Barcelona in the quarter-finals with brilliant defensive play and ended Bayern Munich’s journey in the semi-finals with a narrow aggregate win. Inzaghi has built a tough and disciplined team, balancing solid defence with efficient attack.
Luis Enrique’s PSG have also made significant strides in their quest for the elite trophy. The Parisian club won a challenging group, then defeated Arsenal in the round of 16 with a dominant performance. A dramatic win over Real Madrid in the quarter-finals and a convincing display against Manchester City in the semi-finals demonstrated the evolution of this team into a collective force that no longer relies solely on individual talent.
The final presents interesting contrasts: Inter are looking for a sixth title to match Liverpool, while PSG are still chasing a first Champions League trophy in their history after falling short in the 2020 final. For both coaches, it is also an opportunity to prove their coaching approach on the highest stage.
Team Preparation
Ahead of the match, tactical speculation has been the main topic among pundits. Inzaghi is expected to stick with the 3-5-2 formation that has been Inter’s identity all season. The squad he brought to London is in optimal condition with Lautaro
Martinez and Marcus Thuram projected as the main attacking duo. Barella, Calhanoglu, and Mkhitaryan form a balanced midfield trio.
Luis Enrique is reported to rely on a 4-3-3 formation with a deadly attacking trio – Mbappe, Dembele, and Asensio. Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz are prepared as creators in midfield, while the defense is led by the experienced Marquinhos. The press conferences of both coaches the day before the match were marked by mutual respect, although Enrique hinted at a tactical surprise for the final.
The perfect condition of the Wembley pitch and the friendly weather forecast promise a high-quality match. Both teams went through their final training sessions with high focus, refining the last details of their strategies for the final battle.
Course of the Match
The opening whistle was a blistering affair. PSG took control early on with a commanding display of possession, creating some dangerous attacks through the dynamic movement of Mbappe and Dembele. Inter responded by defending, waiting for the opportunity to launch a counter-attack.
The first chance came for PSG in the 14th minute when a neat one-two between Mbappe and Vitinha resulted in a powerful shot that forced a spectacular save from Onana. Inter responded five minutes later with a swift counter-attack that ended with Martinez’s shot going just wide.
The pattern of the match changed in the 36th minute when Inter took the lead. Barella won the ball in midfield from Ruiz, played a brilliant through ball to Thuram who calmly rounded Donnarumma and slotted home, sending the Inter fans into raptures.
PSG increased the pressure in search of an equaliser and they did just before half-time. A coordinated attack initiated by Zaire-Emery led to Hakimi’s cross which was perfectly finished by Mbappe, levelling the score at 1-1 at half-time. The second half began with tactical changes from both coaches. Inzaghi brought on Frattesi to bring new energy to the midfield, while Enrique responded by bringing on Barcola to add creativity in the final third.
The match became increasingly interesting with both teams creating chances in turn. The crucial moment came in the 69th minute when Calhanoglu’s free-kick from 25 meters hit the PSG crossbar, leaving the Inter fans holding their breath.
PSG gained momentum and began to dominate the game. Their pressure finally paid off in the 78th minute when a brilliant combination of the attacking trio led to Asensio’s goal, giving the Parisians a 2-1 lead.
Inter did not give up and launched attack after attack in search of an equalizer. Drama struck in the 89th minute when Martinez managed to break through Donnarumma’s goal, but the goal was disallowed by VAR for a slight offside position.
The five minutes of added time were full of tension as Inter pounded the PSG defense. However, the Paris defense led by Marquinhos held on heroically until the final whistle, confirming PSG’s victory with a score of 2-1.
Key Players
Several players stood out in the final. Kylian Mbappe proved his status as a global star with a goal and a major contribution to PSG’s build-up play. Vitinha was the creative heart of the Paris side with precise ball distribution and hard work down both flanks.
For Inter, Barella showed world class with an energetic performance and brilliant vision that led to the assist for Thuram’s goal. Onana also deserves credit for a couple of crucial saves that kept Inter in the game until the end.
Statistics
The match data shows an interesting balance: PSG dominated possession with 59% to 41%, and registered 14 shots compared to Inter’s 10. Both teams registered 5 shots on target, showing a similar efficiency in creating quality chances.
Inter recorded 22 successful tackles and 13 interceptions, while PSG had the upper hand in aerial duels (17 to 12). Individual data shows Vitinha as the player with the most touches of the ball (103), while Barella leads in terms of distance covered with 12.3 kilometers.
Conclusion
The 2025 Champions League final will be remembered as a fascinating tactical clash between two different approaches to modern football. PSG’s victory marked a historic achievement for the French club, who finally claimed their first Champions League trophy after a long investment and struggle. Luis Enrique proved that his transformation from a star-studded team into a cohesive collective unit is the key to success at the highest level.
For Inter, the defeat was especially bitter after their impressive performances throughout the tournament. However, their achievement in reaching the final showed the Italian club’s real rise in Europe under Inzaghi.
As captain Marquinhos lifted the “Big Ears” trophy amidst a sea of PSG fans, a new era in European football was ushered in. The victory not only demonstrated the maturity of the PSG project, but also validated an approach to football that combines individual talent with team cohesion as a winning formula at the elite level. That historic night at Wembley will live on as the moment when the Parisian club finally realised their grand ambition to stand at the pinnacle of European football.
