Champions League final PREVIEW | Paris Saint-Germain vs Inter | OneFootball

The much-awaited Champions League final is on the menu tonight as Paris Saint-Germain and Inter lock horns at the Allianz Arena in Munich to lift the prestigious trophy.

Paris Saint-Germain venture out against Inter in search of their first Champions League triumph. PSG will hope for a different result tonight than the one they had to accept in their first-ever UCL final in 2020, as Bayern Munich defeated the French giants.

With a huge cash purse and the expertise of Luis Enrique, PSG have transformed their squad and are now playing a free-flowing style of football, quite distinct from Inter’s philosophy. Few would have rooted for Les Parisiens to reach the Champions League final as they were on course to get knocked out in the group stage back in November with Enrique’s job on the line. However, they have stepped up since then, lifting the Ligue 1 and Coupe de France while being just one game away from becoming the first French side to complete the treble.

Like their opposition tonight, Inter too fell in the Champions League final in 2023 to Manchester City. However, the Nerazzurri have three Champions League titles to boast about as they will aim to add a fourth one.

Simone Inzaghi’s men have relied heavily on playing stubborn football with an emphasis on tactical masterclasses in the competition this season as was evident against Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Falling just short of Napoli in the Serie A title race has made Inter sound like a wounded tiger and they are expected to do everything necessary tonight to bring home the highest European honour.

Inzaghi will hope that his players control the game from start to finish without any moment of rest. They learned from their mistakes against Barcelona, where they took their foot off the gas in the second half and the first half lead evaporated within minutes. Inter prevailed in that contest despite being under dire circumstances, and PSG knows just how tough an opponent the Italian giants are.

Results from their last five matches across all competitions

Paris Saint-Germain:

W W W W L

Inter:

W D W W W

Team News

Both teams arrive in Munich with no injuries and adequate rest.

Apart from the suspension of Presnel Kimpembe, Luis Enrique have the full squad at his disposal and a similar line-up as seen against Arsenal could be fielded.

Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will start the contest, looking to continue their red-hot form, while either Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola is set to be benched.

Inter had Benjamin Pavard and Piotr Zielinski back from injuries just in time for the final.

Lautaro Martinez has been rested since the semi-final second-leg win over Barca and he will aim to feature throughout the 90 minutes.

The Nerazzurri will hope for Federico Dimarco to shine again as he dropped a remarkable performance against Man City two years back.

Predicted XIs

Paris Saint-Germain (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Joao Neves, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia.

Inter (3-5-2): Sommer; Bisseck, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez.

Trambak Bhattacherjee | GIFN