Championship Showdown: UEFA Champions League Final - PSG vs Inter Milan - Kickoff, Squad Updates, Starting Lineups
The UEFA Champions League frontier lies ahead as Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Inter Milan square off in the tournament's final. Slated to take place on Saturday, May 31 at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, the clash between the French and Italian titans will commence at 9pm GMT.
The coverage of this thrilling event will be provided by Al Jazeera Sport, starting from 5pm (15:00 GMT).
The Champions League finale brings together PSG and Inter Milan, competing for the title of Europe's premier club trophy. The encounter represents the second Champions League final for PSG, following their loss against Bayern Munich in 2020. As for Inter Milan, they are no strangers to the final, having won the trophy three times.
PSG's manager, Luis Enrique, will enter the competition with a unique sense of accomplishment, having risen swiftly through the ranks of football management. His ascent began with his departure from Real Madrid, followed by his triumph in the 2015 treble with Barcelona as both a player and coach.
Nurtured by their Qatari owners, PSG clinched their position in the final after vanquishing Arsenal by a two-goal margin at the Parc des Princes. Their semi-final victory was wrapped up with a 3-1 aggregate scoreline.
Inter Milan, on the other hand, punched their ticket to the final by edging out Barcelona in dramatic fashion. Their second leg match in Italy extended into extra time, despite Barcelona seemingly poised for victory in injury time during the normal time frame.
In the race for Serie A supremacy, Inter ended up finishing second, yielding the title to Napoli in a tight final round showdown. PSG, however, maintained their dominance in the 2024-25 Ligue 1 season, amassing a staggering 19-point advantage to secure the domestic title, even if their form slacked somewhat at the conclusion of the season.
France will provide the battlefield for a confrontation between two gifted French forwards, Ousmane Dembele of PSG and Inter's Marcus Thuram. Dembele, 27, delivered one of Europe's most impressive offensive campaigns, scoring 32 goals in 50 appearances for PSG this season, with a significant contribution to an unbeaten 30-match league run. Thuram, son of French World Cup hero Lilian Thuram, has notched 18 goals in 52 appearances for Inter this season and proven to be an able partner for top scorer Lautaro Martinez.
Set against the backdrop of the Munich Football Arena, a 75,000-seat venue more commonly known as the Allianz Arena, this will be the first time a German venue has hosted the Champions League final since 2012. Boasting a rich football history, the Allianz Arena is the home ground of current German Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
Inter and PSG have never faced each other in a competitive UEFA Champions League fixture. Their past encounters have been limited to friendly matches, with their most recent encounter taking place on August 1, 2023, when Inter won 2-1 at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo.
Current PSG defender Achraf Hakimi, a multi-talented full-back deemed one of the best in the world, left Inter Milan in the 2020-21 season due to the club's financial pressures, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hakimi shined for Inter, making 37 appearances, scoring seven goals, and contributing eight assists during their last championship-winning season.
Both teams come into the competition with relatively healthy squads. PSG has no injury concerns, while Inter is only missing the services of Bisseck (knee), Pavard (ankle), and Zielinski (muscular). As they ready themselves for the finale, both managers are optimistic about their team's prospects.
The Champions League triumph will rid the victor of a €20m ($22.5m) purse, with the runners-up receiving €15.5m ($17.5m). With their sights set firmly on the prize, Inter Milan and PSG prepare for a titanic clash in pursuit of football immortality.
Breaking news: The upcoming football match between PSG and Inter Milan in the Champions League final is generating extensive sports coverage, with Al Jazeera Sport providing live updates starting from 5pm (15:00 GMT). This divisive encounter will mark the first time these teams face each other in a competitive UEFA Champions League fixture, despite previously meeting in friendly matches. The victor of this match will claim a €20m ($22.5m) prize, serving as a significant motivation in the search for football immortality.
