Seventy years after the birth of the European Cup in the heart of Paris, the city finally witnessed a moment it had long been denied: a Champions League title returning by right to the French capital.
Paris Saint-Germain, a club that didn’t exist when the tournament was conceptualized in the offices of L’Equipe, delivered a footballing masterclass under Luis Enrique to obliterate Inter Milan in a one-sided final. What was billed as a balanced showdown turned into a brutal demonstration of superiority, leaving no doubt about the best side in Europe.
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Luis Enrique’s Blueprint: Possession, Pressing, and Precision
The outcome was no fluke. From the first whistle, PSG were a class apart — tactically mature, fluid in movement, and ruthless in execution. Enrique’s setup saw PSG command the ball with conviction, pressing high when out of possession and capitalizing on every Inter mistake.
His system allowed players the freedom to roam without compromising structure — Desire Doue roamed across flanks, Ousmane Dembele drifted seamlessly between central and wide zones, while Achraf Hakimi blurred positional lines entirely, ghosting into the box as a makeshift striker.
The Hakimi Statement: Past, Present, and Paradox
When Hakimi fired home the opener, it felt symbolic on multiple levels. The Moroccan full-back, purchased from Inter, stood motionless in front of his former fans, his non-celebration a quiet yet pointed reminder of PSG’s ability to snatch elite talent from European peers.
His strike also exposed a recurring vulnerability in Inter’s setup. Their 3-5-2 shape lacks natural cover against marauding full-backs — an issue brutally highlighted in their semi-final as well. Ironically, Hakimi, often labeled PSG’s defensive liability, was the one to exploit Inter’s own defensive shortcomings. Federico Dimarco, tasked with exploiting Hakimi’s space, ended up playing him onside and contributing to a defensive horror show.
Inter’s Implosion: Errors, Hesitations, and Misfires
While PSG sparkled, Inter collapsed under their own weight. Misplaced passes out of defence broke their rhythm and invited relentless waves of pressure. Dimarco and Alessandro Bastoni repeatedly overhit passes, while forwards Marcus Thuram and Nicolo Barella miscontrolled in crucial zones. Their usual telepathic flicks and backheels failed miserably, looking less like creative ingenuity and more like desperate guesswork.
A particularly shambolic second goal summed up their evening. As Denzel Dumfries launched a hopeful throw into the box, veteran Francesco Acerbi screamed in vain for a short option. What followed was chaos — Barella tried shielding the ball, only to be robbed by Willian Pacho, triggering a counterattack finished by Doue, courtesy of yet another Dimarco deflection.
Midfield Might and Wide Warrior: Layers of Dominance
Doue’s brace underlined PSG’s dynamic range. The third came from a move initiated by a Dembele backheel — the same maneuver Inter had been failing at all night.
Fabian Ruiz and Vitinha, despite being deeper midfielders, surged forward like attacking midfielders. Their combinations left Inter dazed, while PSG’s fourth arrived from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the January recruit from Napoli, who not only scored but defended like a seasoned wing-back. His relentless tracking back would’ve stunned fans used to Neymar or Mbappe’s defensive apathy.
Stars Reborn: Post-Galactico Era PSG Shine Brighter
This new PSG is not just a collection of names but a cohesive unit. The absence of Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe hasn’t diminished them — it’s liberated them. Gianluigi Donnarumma, the Euro 2020 MVP, anchored the back. Fabian Ruiz, arguably unlucky to miss out on Euro 2024’s best player award, orchestrated the middle. Marquinhos led from the front. All were lured from Serie A, adding salt to Inter’s wounds.
As often happens in sport, subtraction bred strength. Like Spain flourishing post-Raul in 2008 or Denmark winning Euro ’92 sans Michael Laudrup, PSG looked freer, faster, and far more functional without their erstwhile talisman. Mbappe, now with Real Madrid, must’ve watched with a heavy heart — a déjà vu of Zlatan Ibrahimovic leaving Inter in 2009 only for them to lift the title that season.
Mayulu’s Moment: Parisian Dream Realised
Fittingly, the fifth goal arrived from the boot of 19-year-old Senny Mayulu — not just another academy hopeful but a Paris-born boy. A symbol of the club’s renewed focus on homegrown talent, Mayulu’s strike was more than just the final nail — it was a poetic ending to an unforgettable night in the city where it all began.
Paris Saint-Germain didn’t just win a trophy — they dismantled a finalist, rewrote their narrative, and sent a message to Europe. Luis Enrique’s side combined elegance with intensity, precision with flair, youth with experience. In doing so, they didn’t just return the European Cup to Paris — they reclaimed it in style, with a performance that even those 1954 sports journalists would have called the stuff of dreams.
Read More: Real Madrid Named Most Valuable Football Club for 4th Year Running by Forbes
FAQs
How did PSG defeat Inter in the Champions League final?
PSG overwhelmed Inter with tactical brilliance, fluid movement, and relentless pressing, securing a dominant victory in the final.
Who scored the opening goal for PSG against Inter?
Achraf Hakimi netted the opener, highlighting his attacking presence and exposing Inter’s weakness against offensive full-backs.
What tactics did Luis Enrique use to outclass Inter?
Luis Enrique used positional fluidity, aggressive pressing, and dynamic overlaps to dismantle Inter’s rigid 3-5-2 setup.
Why was PSG’s win over Inter historically significant?
PSG’s triumph marked the first time the European Cup returned to Paris, the city where the competition was originally conceived in 1954.
Did PSG’s young players make an impact in the final?
Yes, 19-year-old Senny Mayulu scored PSG’s fifth, showcasing the club’s renewed focus on promoting homegrown talent.
