STAR FOOTBALL PREVIEW Sat: 2025 Champions League Final

After the Europa and Conference League finals, the main event takes place tonight when Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan go head-to-head for Champions League glory, writes WILLIAM KEDJANYI.

We have an occasion worthy of the first final with the new competition’s format, with both sides knocking out elite European opposition – in the knockout rounds, both have beaten the winners of the Premier League, Bundesliga and La Liga – and it’s easy to make a case for either team.

Transformed since the second half of a season, a remodelled PSG – still extremely wealthy, but with much more cohesion than their recent galaticos era – has taken Europe by storm, eliminating Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal on the way to the final whilst nearly completing an unbeaten season in Ligue 1 and making short work of the French Cup final.

PSG have won 28 of 33 games, with the losses being a hideously unlucky defeat to Liverpool in the first leg of their encounter (won the shot count 27-2, the shots on target count 10-1, the xG count 1.78 to 0.27 and forced Allison into nine saves), a loss at Aston Villa when they led the tie, and two minor slip ups in lower intensity domestic games. Bar that, they have been largely flawless, led by the razor-sharp attacking trio of Osumane Dembele, Desire Doue, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, all of whom will be popular with starsports.bet in goalscorer and assist markets.

Luis Enrique has a good problem with a choice between Desire Doue or Bradley Barcola for one of the three forward slots, whilst there’s a wonderful balance in midfield anchored around Vitinha, with Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves, Europe’s best shot stopper in Gianluigi Donnarumma and flying fullbacks in the shape of Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi to boot.

With balance, dynamism and ability all over the park, PSG are just 90 minutes away from Champions League glory.

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PSG v Aston Villa
2025 UEFA Champions League Final
Allianz Arena, Munich
20:00 TNT Sports 1 HD / Discovery+ / TNT Sports Ultimate / YouTube

LAST FIVE STATS

HEAD-TO-HEAD
First meeting between teams

PARIS ST-GERMAIN
MAY 2025 FRENCH CUP FINAL Paris St-Germain 3-0 Reims
MAY 2025 LIGUE 1 Paris St-Germain 3-1 Auxerre
MAY 2025 LIGUE 1 Montpellier 1-4 Paris St-Germain
MAY 2025 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Paris St-Germain 2-1 Arsenal
MAY 2025 LIGUE 1 Strasbourg 2-1 Paris St-Germain

INTER MILAN
MAY 2025 SERIE A Inter 1-0 Verona
MAY 2025 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL Inter 4-3 Barcelona
MAY 2025 SERIE A Torino 0-2 Inter
MAY 2025 SERIE A Inter 2-2 Lazio
MAY 2025 SERIE A Como 0-2 Inter

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They will have to be at their best to beat an Inter side that has arguably endured the harder route here of the two, knocking out Bundesliga winners Bayern Munich and La Liga winners Barcelona in thrilling style in the quarters and semis.

After falling agonisingly short in Serie A and the Coppa Italia, Simone Inzaghi’s men will be desperate to make amends for failing to get over the line in both competitions, as well as the final two years ago when they outplayed Manchester City but fell victim to a late sucker punch.

Inter have arguably not been as impressive as PSG, although much stiffer domestic competition, an older squad and a packed schedule probably took their toll. Despite that, they bounced back against Barcelona and were able to rest nearly the entire team against Como last Friday, with only goalkeeper Yann Sommer, wing-back Federico Dimarco, and playmaker Hakan Calhanoglu likely to be involved today after playing there.

That means Inter shouldn’t lack any energy here, which will be vital given how hard they made life for a similar team in Barcelona during both legs of their semi-final. Inter, as they have been all season, were excellent in transition, with Denzel Dumfries, Marcus Thuram, and Lautaro Martinez all a major threat on the break.

In midfield, Nicolo Barella can pressure PSG’s midfield three out of possession, and Simone Inzaghi’s experience with this side – many of whom played so well in defeat against Manchester City two years ago – will stand them in excellent stead to boot.

Verdict

There’s not much between these two sides, something which is reflected in most of the starsports.bet prices.

Inter have arguably achieved more in their route to the final but what their semi-final thriller with Barcelona showed is that their defence can be unpicked, and PSG have the attacking weapons to take advantage. Scoring the first goal will be absolutely crucial – both these teams are fantastic in transition – but PSG arguably have more movement and creativity in their starting XI, and they can edge what could be a very tight game. It would be no surprise if both teams scored, even taking the tight nature of previous finals into account, and a 2-1 correct score in PSG’s favour appeals.

Specials

One of the key angles into this final is likely to come on the flanks. Inter are happy to go wide in transition, whilst PSG have exceptional wide players. Denzel Dumfries is expected to play a big part here both going forward and back, and a boosted price of 9/4 (from 13/8) on him getting carded makes appeal with starsports.bet.

He will have to cover Kvicha Kvaratskhelia and has fouled twice or more in 10 of his last 16 games, whilst it would be no surprise if he also had to cover combinations between Kvicha Kvaratskhelia and Hakimi to boot.

Regarding player specials for PSG, the boosted special for Ousmane Dembele to score first is too good to pass up. Demebele’s scoring form is unreal both domestically and in Europe, with eight goals in his last eight appearances, and he scored the first goal in wins against Liverpool and Arsenal to boot.

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