Inter lost the 2023 Champions League final to Manchester City, marking the third time they’ve lost to a team that went on to win the treble.
Should PSG win this final, history could repeat itself — but Inter come with the strength of having already lifted the trophy three times.
After falling short in both Serie A and the Coppa Italia, manager Simone Inzaghi is hoping this final will redeem their season.
Their epic 7-6 aggregate win over Barcelona in the semifinals boosted hopes, and even if they only bring home the Champions League, it would still be considered one of the greatest seasons in club history, especially given their underdog status at the start.
That said, Inter’s recent form hasn’t been entirely convincing: defeats to Bologna and Roma, dropped points to Lazio that cost them the league title, and a heavy home defeat to AC Milan that saw them crash out of the Coppa Italia.
Still, Inter look stronger than they were in 2023, and captain Lautaro Martinez has stated that the team is determined to right the wrongs of the past.
One of Inter’s strengths is their ability to control matches — they have taken the lead in 11 out of 14 UCL games this season and have trailed for only a total of seven minutes, including stoppage time against Bayer Leverkusen and late in the second leg versus Barcelona before Francesco Acerbi’s equalizer.
This final becomes even more thrilling with both teams almost at full strength.
Presnel Kimpembe is out for PSG due to injury, but the rest of the squad is available — including Ousmane Dembele, who returns as a starter.
Coach Luis Enrique faces a decision between starting Desire Doue or Bradley Barcola, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia almost certain to start on the left wing.
For Inter, both Benjamin Pavard and Piotr Zielinski have returned to training and are expected to be in the squad.
Lautaro Martinez, who has been resting since the semifinal, is now fully fit and ready to lead the attack. Inter also rested most of their first-team regulars in the last match against Como.
Predicted Lineups
Paris Saint-Germain (4-3-3):
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Joao Neves, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia
Inter Milan (3-5-2):
Sommer; Bisseck, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez
