THE CHAMPIONS BLOG: 2024/25 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL PREVIEW: PARIS SAINT GERMAIN VS INTER MILAN 

36 teams started this blockbuster of a competition back in September, which saw the dawn of a new era in the Champions League. Now, the best two teams in Europe remain. Paris Saint Germain are set to travel to Munich and raise the flag for France and look to become the first French champions since Marseille back in 1993. There, they will face Inter Milan, who raise the flag for Italy, and look to win Italy's first Champions League title since 2010. For the first time since 2004, there will be no English, Spanish or German teams in the final. In just a matter of days, one team will overcome the other and lift the European Cup either for the first time or the first time in 15 years. Will it be PSG or Inter Milan who emerge victorious in Munich?

Finalist 1: Paris Saint Germain

Road to Munich: 

League Phase: 

Girona (H): 1-0 

Arsenal (A): 0-2

PSV Eindhoven (H): 1-1

Atletico Madrid (H): 1-2

Bayern Munich (A): 0-1

RB Salzburg (A): 3-0

Manchester City: (H) 4-2

VfB Stuttgart (A): 4-1

Although PSG made it to the final, their start to the inaugural league phase was not favourable to them, as they were drawn agains then reigning Premier League champions and runners-up, Manchester City and Arsenal, as well as Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid. After matchday five, PSG found themselves in the elimination places in the table, as they find themselves situated in 25th. However, a resurgence in form, saw them rise to 15th, making the knockout round play-offs by the scrape of their teeth. 

Knockout Round Play-Offs: 

Brest (A): 3-0 

Brest (H): 7-0 

PSG win 10-0 on aggregate 

In the knockout round play-offs draw on January 31st, PSG were paired up to face fellow Ligue 1 side, Brest, in what would be only the second all-french encounter in the Champions League, and the first since 2009-10 season when Lyon faced Bordeaux in the quarter finals. The Parisians travelled west to Guingamp for the first leg, and put on a show for their supporters, demolishing Brest 3-0, with a penalty from Vitinha and a brace from Ousmane Dembélé, before dismantling them in the second leg by 7 goals, each from a different goalscorer, setting up a tie with heavy favourites and league phase winners, Liverpool. 

Round of 16: 

Liverpool (H): 0-1 

Liverpool (A): 1-0 (4-1 on penalties) 

PSG win 4-1 on penalties after drawing 1-1 on aggregate

Liverpool were arguably the best team in the Champions League that season, defeating the likes of Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, AC Milan and RB Leipzig in just the league phase, finishing first while gaining a total of 21 points out of a potential 24. PSG hosted the first leg, and were arguably the best team of that night, showering Liverpool with countless counter attacks, but no end product. Eventually, 3 minutes from the end of normal time, Harvey Elliott, who had only been on the pitch for roughly a minute, scored to complete a smash-and-grab victory for the Reds, giving them the advantage going into the second leg. PSG wouldn't let any chance go begging in the second half, as immediately in the 12th minute, Dembélé tied things on aggregate with a simple tap in. Not even 120 minutes could separate the sides on aggregate, as the game would go to penalties. Fortunately for PSG, Gianluigi Donnarumma was at the top of his game, and produced two incredible saves to deny Liverpool entry into the quarter finals, sending PSG through. 

Quarter Finals: 

Aston Villa (H): 3-1 

Aston Villa (A): 2-3 

PSG win 5-4 on aggregate 

Aston Villa were PSG's next opponents, as the Birmingham side looked to continue their incredible underdog story, in their first Champions League campaign, since 1982-83, when PSG were only existent for 13 years at the time. In the first leg in Paris, Aston Villa surprised everyone when they took the lead 10 minutes from the end of the first half through a Morgan Rogers tap in. However, PSG responded within four minutes with an amazing curling shot from Désiré Doué. Within four minutes into the second half, new recruit, Kvicha Kvaratskhelia scored an iconic goal to turn the game around before Nuno Mendes slotted the ball into the top corner, making it 3-1 and taking a positive two goal lead into the second leg in Birmingham. In the second leg, PSG already had a 2-0 lead going into the first 30 minutes of the game, with Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes scoring goals to give PSG a comfortable 5-1 lead on aggregate. However, Aston Villa refused to go down without a fight and conjured three goals, to reduce the deficit to 5-4. Despite Villa's heroics, they couldn't find the fifth goal, and PSG were through to consecutive Champions League semi finals for the first time in four seasons. 

Semi Finals: 

Arsenal (A): 1-0 

Arsenal (H): 2-1 

PSG win 3-1 on aggregate 

With the Aston Villa task now completed, PSG were set to face their fourth Premier League team of the season in Arsenal, the only English team left standing in the competition. Arsenal have had lots to be credited for, as they've already beat PSG earlier this season, back on matchday 2, by a score of 2 goals to nil. They've also embarrassed the outgoing champions, Real Madrid, winning 3-0 in London and 2-1 in Madrid. However, PSG wouldn't be fazed because of this as four minutes into the evening at the Emirates, Ousmane Dembélé's first time shot bounced off the post before going in. Careful defending for the rest of the game saw PSG maintain their lead and carry the advantage back to Paris for the second leg. In Paris, a first Champions League goal from Fabian Ruiz and an Achraf Hakimi curler looked to seal the deal for PSG, but a Bukayo Saka tap in looked to make things interesting with the aggregate score to make it 3-1. However, the Gunners couldn't find another goal, and PSG were through to their first Champions League final since a COVID-ridden 2020. 

FINAL: 

Inter Milan (Munich) 

Finalist 2: Inter Milan 

Road to Munich: 

League Phase: 

Manchester City (A): 0-0 

Crvena Zvezda (H): 4-0 

Young Boys (A): 1-0 

Arsenal (H): 1-0 

RB Leipzig (H): 1-0 

Bayer Leverkusen (A): 0-1

Sparta Praha (A): 1-0

Monaco (H): 3-0 

Inter have had a far better start to the inaugural league phase compared to their final opponents. The Nerazzuri started their campaign in what was a repeat of the 2023 final against Manchester City, with the visitors holding on to claim a 0-0 draw, a point and a clean sheet. For the next four matches, Inter produced dominant performance to keep the opponents at bay, producing four consecutive clean sheets, proving how solid their defence is. However, as they looked to claim another clean sheet, Bayer Leverkusen scored a 90th minute winner courtesy of Nordi Mukiele, inflicting Inter's Milan first defeat of the season. However, a dominant performance in Prague followed by a Lautaro Martinez hat-trick on the final day against Monaco but Inter Milan in fourth in the table and direct qualification to the last 16. 

Round of 16: 

Feyenoord (A): 2-0 

Feyenoord (H): 2-1 

Inter win 4-1 on aggregate

in the last 16, Inter were assigned to face off against Dutch giants, Feyenoord, who were making their first appearance in the last 16 of the competition in their history. Feyenoord, now under the guidance of Dutch icon, Robin van Persie, recently defeated Inter's cross city rivals, AC Milan, and now look to make it a Milan double for the season. However, Milan produced another dominant performance, winning 2-0 while keeping another clean sheet, with goals from Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez putting Inter one foot into the quarter finals. Eventually, Inter would seal the deal in the second leg with Thuram and Hakan Çalhanoğlu sealing a 2-1 win, helping the Nerazzuri cruise into the quarter finals. 

Quarter Finals: 

Bayern Munich (A): 2-1

Bayern Munich (H): 2-2

The quarter finals of the Champions League is always tough, and Inter were handed a tough encounter against Bayern Munich, who were heavy favourites to make the final in their own backyard. The first leg was played in the same venue where Inter will battle against PSG, the Allianz Arena in Munich. Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring in Munich through a dominant finish from the Argentinian. With five minutes remaining in Munich, Thomas Müller tapped the ball into an open net, making it 1-1 and surely sealing a draw. However, David Frattesi put a dagger into Bayern Munich hearts and take the advantage back to Milan. In the second leg, the first half lacked any action but the second half had it all. 7 minutes in, and Harry Kane made it 1-0 to Bayern an 2-2 on aggregate. However, two goals in the span of three minutes from Lautaro Martinez and former Bayern centre-back, Benjamin Pavard put Inter Milan back in front and surely sealing their place in the semi finals. Eric Dier looked to make things interesting when he scored from a corner with 15 minutes remaining, but Bayern could;'t find the third goal, and Inter were through to the semi finals once again, while Bayern's dreams of making a Champions League final in their own backyard have come to an end. 

Semi Finals: 

Barcelona (A): 3-3 

Barcelona (H): 4-3 (after extra time) 

Inter win 7-6 on aggregate

Inter's final task before the final was to face one of the most formidable Barcelona sides in years. The Blaugrana defeated the likes of Borussia Dortmund and Benfica, not once but twice, after annihilating Bayern Munich 4-1 in the league phase. Despite Barcelona's incredible form, Inter started the game brilliantly, catching Barcelona off guard multiple times. Inter led 2-0 early within the 21st minute, with goals from Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfries giving Inter a comfortable lead but Barça fought back through Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres, grabbing goals to make it 2-2 before half time. In the second half, Dumfries restored Inter’s lead in the 63rd minute, but a Raphinha thunder strike equalised things just two minutes later, setting the stage for a thrilling game at the San Siro the following week, with the place in the final up for grabs. In Milan the following week, Inter started the game almost the same way they stared in Barcelona a week ago. The first half saw Inter take another 2-0 lead, with goals from a Lautaro Martinez tap in and a Hakan Çalhanoğlu penalty. Eventually, Barcelona fought back and conjured two goals, courtesy of two unlikely sources in Eric García and Dani Olmo. The San Siro fell quiet in the 87th minute when Raphinha scored to surely send Barcelona packing for Munich but Inter's fans found their voice again, when Francesco Acerbi scored, two minutes from time to send the game to extra time. Within 9 minutes of extra time, Davide Frattesi proved to be the clutch player for Inter once again, scoring the decisive goal to send Inter to Munich. Eventually, the Nerazurri managed to hold off Barcelona thanks to a Yann Sommer masterclass and are now set to face PSG and avenge the sorrow of Istanbul. 

FINAL: 

Paris Saint Germain (Munich) 

With the final just a matter of days away, every football in the world all hails the same question in their minds: Who will be the next kings of Europe? Will PSG engrave their names onto Europe's greatest club competition prize for the first time in their history and avenge the sorrow of Lisbon five years ago? Or will Inter Milan avenge their sorrows of Istanbul two years ago, and lift the Champions League for the first time since 2010? The Champions League will return in June following the events in Munich when the new champions of Europe will be crowned?