PSG win Champions League for first time with comfortable win over Inter Milan

The 2024/25 Champions League took on a brand new format and after negotiating a complicated league stage and battling through various knock-out ties, Paris Saint-Germain were the team who lifted the trophy at the end of it all.

It was the French outfit’s first taste of glory in Europe’s premier competition and they achieved the success in style as they totally outplayed Inter Milan to run out 5-0 winners.

Luis Enrique’s expensively assembled squad were simply too good for their Italian opponents and for most onlookers over the course of the competition, the best team has taken the crown.

It would be true to say that PSG were not featuring in the top 4 or 5 amongst the bookmakers, but the young side grew as the season progressed and became at times, almost unplayable.

That was certainly the case in the final played at Munich’s Allianz Arena as the runaway French champions tore into Inter who basically had no answer.

Playing with a swagger that only comes with the knowledge that talent runs right through the team, they chose the occasion to display all their strengths and skills to the delight of their owners the Qatar Sports Investments, who have craved this moment since their 2011 takeover.

The slickness of their passing backed up by a fierce press was left Inter chasing shadows. Désiré Doué, the 19-year-old blessed a footballing brain well beyond his years, was quickly into his stride and was heavily involved as his side took a 12th minute lead.

Receiving a pass from the irrepressible Portuguese Vitinha, Doué showed remarkable vision and restraint when opting to turn down the chance of a shot – which probably every other player on the pitch would have taken – and instead pick out Achraf Hakimi for a tap in from six yards.

Doué then scored himself just 8 minutes later, before effectively ending the game as a contest mid-way through ther second half, finishing off a move that involved a stunning back-heeled pass from Ousmane Dembélé and another precision pass from Vitinha.

Further goals by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and substitute Senny Mayulu put a final gloss on the result and sealing a comprehensive victory – only the second French side to win the trophy 32 years after Marseille’s success in 1993.

PSG dominated the game just as they had dominated the competition since the turn of the year, sweeping all before them, including the best of the English Premier League as they dispatched Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal.

For Simone Inzaghi’s Inter team it was a humiliation and an embarrassment. They were lucky to get away with it being only 5, it could have been 7 or 8. They simply didn’t turn up, irrespective of how good PSG were, and for a Champions League final appearance, that is unforgivable.

The only disappointment from PSG’s point of view was the over-enthusiastic celebrations from their fans who invaded the pitch, leading to a premature end to the players own rejoicing.

It could not dampen the high spirits of the team though. They had delivered a masterclass in what became a mismatch and on this evidence they seem set for years of dominance on the European arena.