MUNICH — Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan are set to clash in a highly anticipated UEFA Champions League final on Saturday night, with both sides eyeing history at Bayern Munich’s 75,000-seater Allianz Arena.
Kickoff is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. local time (1900 GMT), as PSG seek their first-ever Champions League title and Inter chase a fourth, having last won in 2010. The match marks PSG’s second appearance in the final since their Qatari takeover in 2011, while Inter arrive with experience and pedigree on their side.
Excitement is at fever pitch in Paris, where an estimated 40,000 fans will watch the final on big screens at the Parc des Princes, and over 5,000 police officers have been deployed across the city following post-match violence in their semifinal win over Arsenal. Fanzones have also been set up across the capital. In Milan, crowds are expected at the San Siro stadium to back the Nerazzurri.
PSG, despite years of heavy investment, have never lifted the Champions League trophy. Their closest attempt came in the 2020 final, when they lost to Bayern Munich in a behind-closed-doors match in Lisbon. Since then, even with global stars like Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappé, the European crown has remained elusive.
Now under coach Luis Enrique, PSG’s youthful squad has made headlines with thrilling wins over Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Arsenal en route to the final. Star winger Ousmane Dembele has netted 33 goals this season, supported by emerging talents like Desire Doue, Bradley Barcola, and January recruit Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
“We have a glorious opportunity to do something remarkable and historic for this club,” said PSG captain Marquinhos on Friday.
Victory would make PSG only the second French side to win the competition, joining Marseille, who triumphed in 1993 also in Munich.
Inter Milan, meanwhile, carry the weight of tradition. The last Italian team to win the Champions League, they defeated Bayern in Madrid under Jose Mourinho in 2010, and also claimed back-to-back titles in the 1960s. Head coach Simone Inzaghi led the team to the 2023 final, where they narrowly lost to Manchester City.
Eight players from that squad remain in the current starting lineup, including three veterans aged 36 or older. Their path to this year’s final saw them eliminate Bayern in the quarters and Barcelona in a dramatic semifinal.
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez will lead a tactical 3-5-2 formation, a sharp contrast to PSG’s fluid 4-3-3 setup. Midfielder Nicolo Barella, reflecting on their previous final loss, said, “These matches come down to fine margins, but we’ll try to bring home the trophy, that is the dream for all of us.”
Saturday’s final will be the first-ever competitive meeting between PSG and Inter, a high-stakes battle between football’s old guard and a modern superclub hoping to finally claim Europe’s biggest prize.
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