Unbelievable Victory

This year’s final marked Inter’s second appearance in a Champions League final in just three seasons. Back in the 2022–2023 campaign, Inter faced Manchester City in Istanbul, Turkey. Despite putting on an impressive display, outshooting City 14 to 7 (with 6 shots on target compared to City's 4), the Italian side fell to a moment of brilliance from Rodri, which handed Manchester City their first-ever Champions League title. That painful loss was dubbed Inter’s “first heartbreak.”

Now, in their second return to the final, Inter faced a formidable opponent in the form of PSG—a team in peak form. In contrast, Inter entered the final with inconsistent form and the psychological blow of losing the Serie A title to Napoli in the final round. Ultimately, Simone Inzaghi’s men once again fell short of European glory, marking another painful chapter for the Nerazzurri.

On the other side of the pitch, PSG, under the guidance of coach Luis Enrique, looked better than ever. In the group stage, the Ligue 1 champions were unconvincing, struggling with inconsistent performances and barely scraping through to the knockout rounds. PSG finished 15th in the ranking table and had to earn their Round of 16 berth through a playoff.

However, they have since become virtually *unbeatable*. Having already secured a domestic treble—Ligue 1, the French Cup, and the French Super Cup—PSG entered the final eyeing a historic quadruple. At the Allianz Arena in Germany on the early morning of June 1st, they achieved just that—clinching their first-ever Champions League crown dominantly.

From the first whistle blown by referee Istvan Kovacs, the match took off at high intensity. PSG launched an aggressive, high-pressing strategy to catch Inter off guard. In the 12th minute, PSG opened the scoring when Doue delivered a low cross for Hakimi to slot in from close range. The lead doubled in the 20th minute after Dembele's cross from the left found Doue on the opposite wing. The 19-year-old’s shot deflected off Dimarco and past a helpless Yann Sommer, making it 2-0.

With a two-goal cushion at halftime, PSG played with composure and control in the second half. While Inter desperately searched for a response, they were hit on the counter. Vitinha’s pinpoint pass from deep set up Doue for his second goal, making it 3-0. In the 73rd minute, the star duo of Dembele and Kvaratskhelia combined for the fourth, Dembele assisting and Kvaratskhelia finishing clinically. The fifth and final goal came in the 86th minute, when substitute Barcola assisted fellow substitute Mayulu, sealing the resounding 5-0 win.

With this emphatic “five-star” victory, PSG are crowned the 2025 UEFA Champions League champions. It is arguably the largest winning margin ever seen in a Champions League final. For Inter, another ends in heartbreak, but this time with no regrets, as PSG were superior in every department. All hail the new Champions League kings: Paris Saint-Germain.