Throwback: Paris SG vs Inter Milan UCL Final 2025

Paris SG in this tie are playing their first UCL final since losing to Bayern Munich in 2020. Inter are no stranger to UCL finals, last winning in 2010 and reaching the showpiece against Manchester City in 2023. Both teams lost their previous finals 1-0 with Inter losing to Rodri, while PSG losing to a former Parisian, Kingsley Coman.

PSG’s midfield is in my opinion the strongest aspect of their game with Vitinha, Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz heralding the centre of the pitch.

PSG start the final as the dominant side, moving the ball from side to side, with Inter in the early phases content to sit back and capitalize on any errors of PSG. This has been their approach to big games by Inzaghi and his predecessor Antonio Conte. PSG’s early dominance would likely lead to a goal as Inter would likely fold under their pressure at some point.

Inter are playing for the majority of the time without the ball in a mid-block, while PSG are taking more shots in the first twelve minutes, albeit from range. And they were able to to get the early goal, as the former Inter Milan player Achraf Hakimi tapped the ball into an empty net after a lovely pass by Vitinha to Doue who found the Moroccan right-back. 1-0 PSG.

PSG are trying to put sufficient pressure on Inter, and this includes the goalkeeper Yann Sommer, as the French team try to force a mistake.

In the twentieth minute, as Inter Milan pile men forward, PSG hit them on the counter and turn defence into attack. Ousmane Dembele finds Desire Doue who takes a shot which takes a massive deflection off Dimarco and past Sommer to make it 2-0 to the French champions.

Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue hold the width on either side, while PSG are patient while looking for an opening. Vitinha is more like a tempo dictator, as he knows whether to slow down or speed up the game depending on the situation. PSG also try to find Vitinha in between the lines as he can pick passes to the forward players (Doue, Dembele and Kvara).

Paris have been dominant in the first half and deserve their two-goal cushion. Inter’s main tactic is to get the ball to the wingbacks, especially Denzel Dumfries and then whip crosses into the box whoch PSG have not had much trouble defending so far.