PSG vs Inter Milan Preview and Probable Lineups: Key Deciding Factors for UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Final
The 70th edition of Europe’s Elite football competition, the UEFA Champions League, will take the center stage this Saturday in Munich. Paris Saint-Germain will face Inter Milan for the first time in the UEFA Champions League final. The PSG vs Inter Milan will also be only the second French side vs Italian side final game in the competition’s history.
Inter Milan is aiming for their fourth Champions League trophy. You understand why the Bookies have pegged the Italian giants as slight Favourites for this final ahead of PSG, who have previously appeared in only one final, losing 1-0 to Bayern Munich in 2020.
Neither side has been the neutral’s ideal finalist, but no one will contend with the fact that they both are deserving of a place in the final. Described as late bloomers, PSG took some time to get going, but a remarkable turnaround of form in January this year ensured Luis Enrique’s young team reached the finale. At one point, the side was on the verge of an early exit, but the wins over English teams ensured their place in the final.
Unlike PSG, who are on course to achieve the treble this season with a win in this final, Inter Milan is looking to avoid being trophyless with a victory in the UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Final. A season that showed promise and turned sour for the Nerazzuri, missing out on the Serie A title on the final day to Napoli and missing out on the Coppa Italia, the Champions League serves as the only hope of laurel this season, which makes this tie more tantalising.
So, where will this game be won or lost?
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Key Deciding Factors for PSG vs Inter Milan UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Final
Battle Of Goalkeepers
Gianluigi Donnaruma and Yann Sommer have produced stand-out Man of the Match performances route the final and will be key for their respective clubs. After a rather difficult start to the season with errors in certain games, Donnaruma will look to make the most of the opportunity available to him. He will be playing in his first Champions League final and has turned in performances of the highest order, reminiscent of his exploits with the Italian national team as they marched to Euro 2020 win. He was the man of the match, knocking Liverpool on Penalties in the Round of 16. Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, also described him as the man of the match over 2 legs with crucial saves against Martinelli, Saka and the Arsenal attack.
Yann Sommer, on the other hand, has been an instant hit since he joined Inter Milan. Inter Milan has lost only once in the entire Champions League campaign, conceding the least amount of goals, and Sommer has been key. The Austrian faced a total of 47 shots, and despite conceding 6, he won man of the match, making 14 saves against Barcelona over 2 legs.
Despite both sides having creativity and attacking flair on their sides, both of these goalkeepers will be impactful in the PSG vs Inter game.
Battle of Youth Vs Experience
Hakimi and Marquinhos are the only expected starters for PSG to have played in a previous Champions League final. The average age of this PSG team is 25, which is proof of the remarkable job overseen by Luis Enrique. The Inter Milan average age of 29.6 years explains a side more equipped to cope with the psychological tensions that characterise finals. But with Players like Joao Neves, Vitinha and Doue, this PSG has shown it can hold its own in difficult circumstances and environments with standout performances at Emirates and hostile grounds like Anfield.
Battle of the Full Backs
Blessed with quality full-backs like Dumfries and Di Marco/Hakimi and Nuno Mendes, both coaches place emphasis on wing-backs bombing forward at every opportunity to exploit gaps left by the Opposition. Dumfries was signed at Inter Milan following the exit of Hakimi to PSG, and though both are different kinds of right-backs, they are dangerous. Over two legs, Dumfries registered 5 five-goal contribution against Barcelona from the full-back position and offers an aerial presence that PSG must be wary of.
Hakimi Speed is top notch with an average of 36.92 km/hr, he has attempted 23 tackles and has successfully made 19 of his 22 clearances.
Clash of attackers
Ousmane Demebele 8 goals in the Champions League has not only taken PSG to the final but placed the French man firmly in the conversation for Ballon d’or, assisted by Youngsters Desire Doue(3 goals, 2 assists) 22 year old, Barcola ( 3 goals, 3 assists) and Kvaratskhelia (2 goals, 2 assists) the unpredictable movement of the PSG attackers is unlike what Inter have faced as there is no central threat in the form of an out and out number 9.
Inter Milan, on the other hand, spread their goals across the team. Unlike PSG, Inter Milan does have a central threat in Lautaro Martinez, whose 9 goals in 13 matches make him a lethal threat for the PSG centre-back pairing of Marquinhos and Pacho. Marcus Thuram offers an equal threat, and his 4 goals and 1 assist prove that. Dealing with the marauding full-back of Denzel Dumfries and Di Marco, who have contributed with
PSG vs Inter Milan Probable line-up
PSG: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Joao Neves, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia
Inter Milan: Sommer; Bisseck, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez
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