PSG vs Inter: 6 Key Matchups That Will Decide The Champions League Final

Ahead of Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan, we take a closer look at six pivotal battles that could shape the outcome in Munich.

The curtain comes down on the European club football season with a blockbuster showdown at the Allianz Arena, as PSG and Inter clash for continental glory.

For PSG, often seen as perennial contenders without reward, this is their golden opportunity to secure a maiden Champions League triumph. Inter, in contrast, are chasing a fourth European crown — and their first since 2010.

Victory for PSG would complete a historic treble, making them the first French club to ever achieve the feat. Inter, on the other hand, are fighting to salvage silverware from a season that once promised a treble of its own.

Here, we highlight six crucial dynamics that could determine whether the trophy ends up in Paris or Milan.

1. Contrasting Philosophies: Who Dictates the Tempo?

While many neutrals may have been hoping for a PSG vs Barcelona showdown, the clash between PSG and Inter presents an equally intriguing battle of footballing philosophies. The semi-final between Inter and Barcelona proved how captivating a tactical contrast can be, despite the differing approaches of both teams.

True to their identity, PSG will aim to dominate possession and dictate the tempo. They’ve averaged 62.2% possession in the Champions League this season — the fourth-highest — and trail only Bayern Munich in passes attempted per game (632 to Bayern’s 645).

As illustrated by the playing style metrics, PSG are methodical in possession, preferring to build from the back and progress through each third of the pitch. Defensively, they are aggressive in pressing, allowing opponents just 10 passes on average before intervening — tied for the fourth-lowest PPDA in the tournament.

Simone Inzaghi’s Inter are in no rush to press high up the pitch. In fact, only five teams — four of which failed to progress beyond the league stage — have posted a higher PPDA than Inter’s 16.3 in this season’s Champions League.

Inzaghi’s men are more than willing to concede possession, as evidenced by their average ball share of just 47.3% throughout the campaign. That figure dipped even lower in their knockout clashes against Bayern Munich (40.3%) and Barcelona (29.4%). Instead of controlling the ball, Inter prefer to absorb pressure and strike on the break with swift, decisive counter-attacks.

The stark contrast in tactics is further illustrated by each team’s zones of control — highlighting the areas of the pitch where they dominate possession. This final will ultimately be a clash between PSG’s methodical, possession-driven approach and Inter’s calculated, counter-attacking style. The side that best enforces its identity is likely to emerge victorious.

2. Battle on the Flanks: PSG’s Full-Backs vs Inter’s Wing-Backs

As is often the case in Inter matches, the wide areas are expected to play a pivotal role in this final.

Inter’s attacking thrust frequently comes from their dynamic wing-backs, Denzel Dumfries and Federico Dimarco, whose relentless forward runs pose a constant threat. Inter have been particularly effective from wide positions, having scored more goals from crosses (7) than any other team in this season’s Champions League — accounting for 27% of their total tally (7 out of 26).

Dumfries was instrumental in Inter’s semi-final triumph over Barcelona, directly contributing to five goals across the two legs (two goals, three assists). That feat placed him among elite company — only Alessandro Del Piero (1997-98) and Roberto Firmino (2017-18) have been involved in five or more goals in a single Champions League semi-final tie.

PSG left-back Nuno Mendes will be tasked with containing Dumfries, and he enters the final in excellent form. Mendes has been a defensive standout throughout the campaign, registering 45 tackles — second only to teammate João Neves (57) — and 23 interceptions, a tally bettered only by Federico Valverde (27).

In duels, Mendes has been equally impressive, winning 63% of his 184 contests. Among players with 100+ duels this season, only Nicolás Otamendi (67.7%) and Marquinhos (63.7%) boast higher success rates. This flank duel could prove decisive in determining who gains the upper hand in Munich.

The battle on the opposite flank promises to be just as compelling, with Achraf Hakimi set to face off against Federico Dimarco. While Dimarco is known for his attacking instincts, he’ll likely have significant defensive responsibilities in this clash — particularly with PSG’s tendency to overload the right.

The French champions have crafted more chances from the right-sided attacking third (77) than any other team in the 2024-25 Champions League, with 41% of their total chance creation coming from that zone.

Hakimi has been a major force down that flank, leading the competition in chances created from open play (34) and sitting second in assists (5), behind only Raphinha (8). His influence in PSG’s attacking play is underscored by 345 attacking sequence involvements — second only to Ousmane Dembélé (356) in the squad.

Still, Dimarco may look to counter Hakimi’s threat by pushing forward himself. In Serie A, he recorded more assists (7) and created more big chances (17) than any other Inter player, showcasing his ability to turn defence into attack with precision and flair. This matchup could hinge on who can better balance their dual responsibilities — or impose their attacking game to pin the other back.

3. Set-Piece Mastery vs Fragility: The Hidden X-Factor

While it might feel like a footballing cliché to suggest that set-pieces could decide a one-off final, in this case, the numbers strongly support that theory.

Inter showcased their strength from dead-ball situations in the first leg of their semi-final against Barcelona, scoring twice from corners — both converted by Denzel Dumfries. Those goals were part of an impressive 11-goal haul from set-pieces (including penalties) in this season’s Champions League. With 26 total goals, that means a remarkable 42% of their output has come from such situations — the highest share among all teams that advanced beyond the group stage.

This trend mirrors their domestic form as well. In Serie A, Inter netted 17 goals from set-pieces — five more than any other side — and ranked third for the proportion of shots generated from dead-ball scenarios (31.4%), behind only Genoa and Cagliari.

For PSG, however, set-pieces remain a glaring vulnerability. They conceded 11 goals from these situations in Ligue 1 — second only to Rennes — despite having the league’s best overall defensive record. Alarmingly, a league-high 31.1% of their total goals conceded and 21.9% of their expected goals against came from set-pieces. In a match where margins are razor-thin, Inter’s prowess and PSG’s weakness in this area could prove decisive.

4. Fresh Legs vs Seasoned Minds: Will Youth or Experience Prevail?

It might be a well-worn football trope that Italian sides lean on experience, but in Inter’s case, the numbers leave no room for debate.

Throughout the 2024-25 Champions League campaign, Inter’s starting lineups have averaged 30 years and 19 days — making them the oldest among all 36 participating teams. Only Atlético Madrid (43.5%) have allocated a greater share of minutes to players aged 30 and above than Inter’s 43.3%. In total, Inter’s veterans have clocked 6,151 minutes — the most by any side in the competition since Juventus in 2016-17 (6,186 minutes).

One of the most striking examples is Francesco Acerbi, who could make history by becoming the fourth-oldest outfield player to start in a Champions League final at 37 years and 110 days — trailing only Paolo Maldini, Lothar Matthäus, and Ryan Giggs.

In stark contrast to Inter’s seasoned core, PSG boast the youngest squad among all teams that advanced past the play-off stage in this season’s Champions League, with an average age of just 24 years and 262 days — the fifth-youngest overall in the tournament.

Remarkably, the Parisians have only given 1,350 minutes to players aged 30 or older during the campaign, and all of those have come from one man: club captain Marquinhos.

While PSG’s journey to the final is built on youthful energy and fresh legs, Inter lean on history and battle-tested experience. The Italian side is preparing for its seventh European Cup/Champions League final, having lifted the trophy in 1964, 1965, and 2010. Although they narrowly lost the 2023 final to Manchester City, a large core of that side — potentially six or seven players — could feature again, offering them continuity and invaluable experience on this stage.

For PSG, this will be just their second-ever Champions League final appearance, their first ending in heartbreak against Bayern Munich in 2020. Marquinhos is the lone survivor from that night expected to play again.

Both teams have reached this point through contrasting philosophies — Inter’s veteran savvy and PSG’s youthful dynamism — but when the pressure peaks in Munich, only one approach will triumph.

5. Can PSG Break Inter’s Composure and Keep Them Chasing?

Paris Saint-Germain have lit up the Champions League knockout stages with their attacking flair, and anyone who’s followed their journey knows they’re never short on firepower.

Leading the charge is Ousmane Dembélé, enjoying one of the most explosive campaigns of his career. The French winger has racked up 33 goals and 11 assists across all competitions, with 25 of those strikes coming in the second half of the season. Among players from Europe’s top five leagues, only Kylian Mbappé (29) has scored more since January.

But Dembélé is far from a one-man army. Luis Enrique has a wealth of talent at his disposal, including the electric Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the agile Bradley Barcola, and the exciting youngster Désiré Doué — a trio capable of tormenting even the most organised defences. It’s why many believe PSG could cause serious problems for Inter in the final.

However, breaking Inter’s defensive rhythm is easier said than done. The Serie A champions have shown remarkable control throughout the Champions League, rarely finding themselves in losing positions. Across 1,395 minutes of play in this season’s competition, Inter have only trailed for a total of 17 minutes.

Even during the chaotic semi-final slugfest with Barcelona that produced 13 goals across two legs, Inzaghi’s side were behind for just six minutes. In fact, they’ve trailed in only three matches this entire Champions League run — and in none of those did they remain behind for more than 370 seconds.

Inter’s ability to stay composed under pressure and respond swiftly when conceding suggests PSG may need more than an early lead to crack them. Still, for the neutral, seeing PSG draw first blood in Munich would set up a captivating test of Inter’s famously resolute mindset.

6. The Final Showdown: Two Elite Goalkeepers Face Off

As is fitting for a Champions League final, two of Europe’s elite goalkeepers will take centre stage, each hoping to be the last line of resistance on football’s grandest platform.

For Inter, Yann Sommer has been nothing short of exceptional throughout the 2024-25 campaign. Statistically, no goalkeeper has outperformed expectations like the Swiss veteran, who has prevented 5.2 more goals than expected based on the quality of shots faced (excluding own goals). He’s conceded 10 goals from 15.2 xG on target — the best differential in the competition.

Sommer also boasts the highest save percentage (81.4%) among goalkeepers to feature in at least eight games and leads the pack with seven clean sheets. While he did ship six goals across two pulsating semi-final legs against Barcelona, he also recorded a mammoth 13 saves — a testament to his resilience in high-pressure moments.

On the other side, PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma may not have quite matched Sommer’s statistical excellence this season (+2.5 goals prevented, 70.2% save percentage), but the Italian has been a colossus when it mattered most. His penalty heroics against Liverpool in the round of 16 kept PSG alive, while a string of brilliant saves — including six in the second leg against Aston Villa and eight in two games versus Arsenal — have been pivotal to their run.

Donnarumma was particularly outstanding against Arsenal, producing a jaw-dropping stop to deny Martin Ødegaard in the semi-final second leg. Though the numbers may favour Sommer, the final could be decided by a single moment of brilliance, and both keepers have shown they are more than capable of delivering just that. All eyes will be on who rises highest when it matters most in Munich.

Read More: Champions League 2024/25 Final: PSG vs Inter Preview, Prediction and Where To Watch The Match LIVE

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