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Champions League Final Preview
On the eve of the Champions League Final, we break down the matchup between Ligue 1 McDonald's champions Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan.
Kvara back in the mix
After a long season which saw his team on the brink of elimination from the newly reformatted competition, Luis Enrique has guided his team to the final of the UEFA Champions League. After a series of impressive knockout wins over the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal, the capital side are ready to win an historic title as they face Inter Milan in Munich. That this was achieved despite the departure of Kylian Mbappé was impressive indeed, but even if the Spaniard had no like-for-like replacement for the French international, he was given an industrious and talented attacking option in the form of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Signed in the January window, the Georgia international has showed plenty of determination and no small measure of skill, and that he's returned to training will surely be good news for PSG. But as much as the former Napoli man has proved a spark, so too have the club's summer additions, with Enrique remaking the team in his image. Speaking prematch, he said, "The change and the evolution of the team are clear to see. Our goal was to gradually create something different, something special, something which could attract players and make them want to come to Paris. We had to make the right signings. We believed in the profile of players we looked for... and they all help us." Now, having secured the Ligue 1 title and the Coupe de France, Enrique will look for success thanks to this collective mindset on the biggest stage of all.
Donnarumma. Sommer. 🧤
PSG. Inter. 🌟
UCL final. TOMORROW. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/Uj5htNiY7c— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) May 30, 2025
Inter a worthy opponent
But that doesn't mean that Enrique is taking his opposition lightly, having seen the Italian side's capabilities in knocking out Barcelona and Bayern Munich in the last two rounds alone. While not quite as flash as his paris side, Enrique underscored that experience could yet tell in this encounter, saying, "Inter are a more experienced team than us – they played in the final two years ago. They're an experienced team with a coach who already knows what it's like to play in these kinds of matches, with a team that plays very well when in possession and also defends very well. "
Indeed, with the likes of Benjamin Pavard, Yann Sommer, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Francesco Acerbi all laden with European experience, his largely young side will have to be careful not to let the occasion overwhelm them. With Inter having reached the final two years ago, they're a side who have been here before and their composure is sure to make this an interesting encounter. Who will win? Tune in tomorrow from 2100 CET to find out!
Predicted lineups:
Paris Saint-Germain (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; João Neves, Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz; Kvaratskhelia, Dembélé, Barcola (or Doué)
Inter Milan (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Çalhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Lautaro Martínez, Thuram
Read more:
>> Henrikh Mkhitaryan: French Beginnings and a Father’s Legacy
