Tonight, it is time for the match of the matches, the grand finale of the European club season when Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan face off in the UEFA Champions League Final at the Allianz Arena in Munich. It's a clash of contrasting styles and ambitions: PSG, seeking their first-ever Champions League title, and Inter aiming to reclaim European glory for the first time since 2010. Could this prove to be the night when PSG finally breaks their spell to finally step out of their position as the “Almost team”?
After a long series of near misses and heartbreaks, PSG again has earned the chance to claim the finest of European trophies. Tonight, they face Inter Milan in Munich, and the goal is obvious - to secure their first-ever UEFA Champions League title. I think PSG have a far better chance tonight than in their last final. Under the guidance of Luis Enrique, PSG has transformed into a cohesive unit, blending youthful exuberance with tactical discipline. But they are facing experience and tactical mastery from the Italian giants, a skill set that has proven strong enough to eliminate both Bayern Munich and Barcelona on Inter’s road to the final. There is only one thing I am really sure about for tonight’s game, there will be loads of excitement and excellent players doing their absolutely best.
Having already clinched the Ligue 1 and Coupe de France titles; PSG is on the verge of a historic treble. Their journey to the final saw them defeating Premier League heavyweights Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Arsenal. The squad seems to be almost intact for tonight. Key players like Dembélé, with 8 goals and 4 assists in the Champions League this season, and Kvaratskhelia, who has recovered from a recent injury, are expected to lead the attack. The only notable absentee is Kimpembe due to a leg injury.
Looking at the squad arriving to Munich from Milan, there is not many concerns raised for Inter fans. Inter also presents a squad with no or few setbacks, but a wealth of experience to the final. Captain Martínez, fully fit after a hamstring scare, will of course lead the attack alongside Thuram. Pavard has recovered from an ankle injury and is expected to start, while Zielinski is the only question mark for the Italians, h remains a doubt due to a muscular issue.
As you know, I always like to dive into stats and head-to head patterns. But in this case, there is none to find. Believe it or not, this final marks the first competitive encounter ever between PSG and Inter Milan. So, this will be a real heavyweight meeting, two strong and fit squads, two brilliant coaches and no clues to be found in history, apart from PSG’s tradition of almost winning in Europe...
Conclusion: Spells are hard to break, as you know I have had a bit of trouble myself with this in the last few weeks. And even though I think they are closer to finally grabbing the title than ever, I think PSG might have to live with their “Almost Spell” for a while yet. Inter have proven almost unbeatable in this campaign and I think they will keep that trend. After 90 minutes, I think we will see the Italians either celebrating like crazy – or preparing themselves for the coming 30 minutes of extra time. Som, my bet goes to Inter Milan Win or Draw & Over 1,5 goals.
