The 2024/2025 UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan was always destined to be a tactical battle worthy of the grandest stage in European football.
And with the scene set perfectly for a compelling contest that pitted two of the game’s sharpest minds in Luis Enrique and Simone Inzaghi against one another, it was the former’s side who reigned supreme emphatically by virtue of their scintillating 5-0 victory.
On a night where PSG thoroughly outworked, outthought and outclassed Inter to clinch their first-ever Champions League crown, there was no doubting they were the far superior outfit in all phases of the encounter.
Dominant individually and collectively to completely dismantle their adversaries, this was a ruthless and clinical destruction of one of the premier outfits on the continent.
Implementing Enrique’s plans to perfection, his team carried out his demands brilliantly, as their offensive artistry and defensive solidity shone.
One of the keys behind this masterful five-star performance was their customary fluidity and crispness in possession. Constantly asking questions of Inter with their beautifully executed rotations, these forever placed doubts in the minds of their opponents on who to be tracking who at what moment and when to press.
Relentlessly altering reference points for Inter’s rearguard, the Nerazzurri ultimately had no answer for this maelstrom of movement, for they were repeatedly drawn out and manipulated to conjure gaps for PSG to exploit in front of and behind the Inter backline. As a consequence, PSG frequently generated positional and numerical superiorities to carve through their foes at will.
Especially notable was how Ousmane Dembele would not only drop deep in trademark fashion, which expertly created space for midfield runners (usually Fabian Ruiz and Vitinha), but also how he’d pull out wide on the right to let Desire Doue and Achraf Hakimi to get dangerous centrally and in the nearby half space.
This allowed him to enjoy oceans of room to be isolated in advantageous 1v1s to wreak havoc with his pace, trickery and ingenuity, while still ensuring PSG had a fearsome central presence.
All their goals offered terrific examples of their exceptional understanding as a unit, tidy interchanges and tremendous individual class combining to annihilate Inter.
Irresistible, unstoppable and all on the same page, Inter had no solution to combat their elite possession framework, which was underpinned by their cohesive movement, smart passing, crafty variations and dogged work rate.
After going ahead, which meant Inter needed to chase the game, this enabled PSG’s searing counterattacking menace to rise to the fore, where they consistently tore Inter to shreds with their speed, technical wizardry and purposeful running.
Boasting such a unique dual threat in methodical build-up and in transition, there was no stopping this sophisticated, exciting and entertaining PSG, which has been so astutely crafted and moulded in Enrique’s image.
PSG’s intense and aggressive high pressure deserved immense praise too, for their man-to-man harrying effectively suffocated and stifled Inter’s attempts to pass out from the back.
Pressing as a team, responding rapidly to their opponents to remain touch-tight, timing their jumps precisely, keeping their line high and using the sideline as an extra defender, they did a fine job of limiting Inter’s ambitions to get up the pitch.
Their fierce counterpressing complemented the above as well, with their ability to regain the ball quickly once they lost it allowing them to instantly get on the attack again and further set the tone for their crushing display.
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By the numbers, the fact PSG held the ascendancy in terms of expected goals (2.49 to 0.60), total shots (23 to 8), shots on target (8 to 2), chances created (19 to 6), final third passes completed (108 to 42) and least losses of possession (89 to 110) illustrated the command they had over proceedings at the Allianz Arena.
Producing a flawless showing on the biggest platform in European club football, this remarkable body of work was a fitting encapsulation of what a force to be reckoned with in all areas this version of PSG are.
“I think making history was a goal from the start of last season. I really felt a connection with the players and the fans, a very strong connection that we saw throughout the season. We were able to handle the tension and excitement in the best possible way,” explained a delighted Enrique.
Man of the match hero Doue then added: “I have no words. That was just incredible for me, simply incredible. I have no words, sorry. He’s (Luis Enrique) been here for two years and he has made history for the club. Tactically and mentally, he is a really good coach, unbelievable, and as a human being too. It is a pleasure to work with him. I don’t know how we’ll celebrate, but it’s going to be crazy.”
Moreover, it also served as vindication for PSG’s shift in approach away from the galactico model to instead sign younger players wanting to make a name for themselves and focus on their academy.
Spearheaded by talents such as Vitinha, Joao Neves, Bradley Barcola, Willian Pacho, Doue, Warren Zaire-Emery and Senny Mayulu, this change in identity has clearly brought greater stability and balance, plus fostered a much stronger sense of togetherness. This epic finale was a powerful testament to their transformation in philosophy.
Capping off the season in spectacular style by completing a historic treble that culminated in one of the most magical Champions League finals ever witnessed, this was the perfect end to a special campaign for the Parisian giants, as they finally secured the prize they have long coveted.
With the mission accomplished for PSG, all associated with the club can now forget their many past disappointments and celebrate the dawn of a new era, which appears poised to be filled with plenty more silverware.