Paris Saint-Germain has finally reached the zenith of European club football, lifting the coveted Champions League trophy after enduring a decade of frustrating near misses.
Since the Qatar sports investments takeover 2011, the Parisian giant have experienced 12 consecutive appearances in the knockout stages, each followed by varying degrees of disappointment.
However, tonight that narrative shifted dramatically as Luis Enrique’s dynamic side delivered a commanding performance to overcome Inter Milan, fulfilling the long-held aspirations of the club’s ownership and its passionate fan base.
The 13th attempt proved to be the charm, unleashing a torrent of emotion as the final whistle blew.
Inter Milan, who appeared vulnerable from the outset against a PSG side that has been a dominant force in European football since the beginning of the year, struggled attack.
The First significant blow came when the exceptionally talented 19-year-old Desire Doue extended PSG’s lead to 2-0 before the first half reached its midpoint, a deficit from which Inter never looked likely to recover. Their inability to cope with PSG’s high-octane approach ultimately led to their heaviest defeat in Champions League final.
Doue continued to be a thorn in Inter’s side, adding his second goal to make the score 3-0, courtesy of an assist from the influential Vintinha. The scoring continued as Khavicha Kvaratskheila added a fourth with a clinical breakaway goal. A moment of dazzling skill, verging on audacious, saw substitute Bradley Barcola bewilder the experienced Inter defender Francesco Acerbi with a mesmerizing piece of footwork, although his subsequent shot failed to find the target.
PSG exerted complete control over the proceedings. The despair within the Inter camp was palpable, starkly captured by the image of a tearful Inter supporter displayed on the stadium’s big screen. This resounding defeat contrasted sharply with Onter’s recent ambitions of securing a treble, having been at the top of their domestic league and progressing in the Coppa Italia, while also harboring desires of avenging their previous Champions League final loss.
Instead, they now face the reality of finishing the season empty-handed, their European dreams emphatically extinguished. PSG’s dominance was further underlined when another promising 19-year-old substitute, Senny Mayulum scored the final goal, converting a pass from Barcola to seal a historic treble for PSG and finally deliver the elusive champions League title.
The scenes following the trophy presentation were deeply emotional. PSG’s devoted supporters unveiled a moving tifo in tribute to Luis Enrique’s daughter Xana, who tragically lost her battle with cancer in 2019.
Thousands of Jubilant fans then surged onto the pitch, their elation managed by a strong but good natured police presence. The sheer brilliance of their team’s performance from the very first minute left the supporters in a state of joyous disbelief- a display characterized by seamless positional interchanges, clever tactical overloads, and inclusive passing.
PSG’s intense pressing strategy also proved highly effective in stifling Inter, severely limiting their ability to build attacks from the back, with goalkeeper Yann Sommer frequently finding himself under pressure.
Vitinha was a central figure in many of PSG’s attacking moves, including the crucial opening goal scored by Achraf Hakimi. His vision and precise execution were instrumental, as he expertly observed Kvaratskhelia and Fabián Ruiz drawing the Inter defense towards the left flank before delivering an accurate pass to Doué on the edge of the penalty area, who then laid the ball off for the onrushing Hakimi to finish with precision from close range.
By the 20th Minute, PSG had firmly established their dominance, leaving Inter visibly struggling to cope. A denied appeal for a corner from Nicolò Barella was swiftly followed by a decisive tackle from Willian Pacho, which ignited a rapid and devastating PSG counter-attack, ultimately leading to Doué’s deflected opening goal after good work from Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembélé.
Inter desperately sought a way to regain a foothold in the match, hoping that a set-piece opportunity might provide a lifeline. Acerbi came close with a header, and Marcus Thuram directed another header just wide after out jumping Kvaratskheila. Braella also squandered a promising opening with a heavy touch in open play.
However, the match had become a clear demonstration of PSG’s superior tactical organization, their unwavering confidence, and their remarkable ability to exploit space. Dembélé’s intelligent movement from his central attacking role, coupled with Doué’s freedom to roam from the right wing, constantly stretched the Inter defense, effectively supported by the dynamic overlapping runs of Hakimi.
The encounter also highlighted the contrasting footballing philosophies and financial capabilities of the two clubs. PSG’s youthful dynamism contrasted with Inter’s experience, their fluid 4-3-3 formation, often without a traditional center-forward, effectively nullifying Inter’s 3-5-2 setup with two central strikers. Furthermore, the game underscored the significant disparity in financial investment; with Inter’s most expensive signings under Simone Inzaghi paling in comparison to the cost of the majority of PSG’s starting eleven.
Despite needing a strong start to the second half, Inter struggled to create any meaningful opportunities, with Thuram’s 75th-minute shot, comfortably saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma, being their only clear chance after the interval, by which time PSG had already established a commanding four-goal lead.
PSG’s third goal perfectly encapsulated their control and creativity. Vitinha, displaying exceptional close control and vision, skillfully navigated the midfield, evading the challenges of Inter’s midfielders. A delightful one-two with a clever back-heeled pass from Dembélé released Vitinha, who then delivered a perfectly weighted pass to Doué for his second goal of the night. At this juncture, the outcome of the match was effectively sealed, although Kvaratskhelia and Mayulu added further goals to compound Inter’s misery, completing a historic and deeply emotional triumph for Paris Saint-Germain, the newly crowned champions of Europe.
