Paris Saint-Germain finally lifted the Champions League trophy for the first time in their history, and they did so in sensational style, demolishing Inter Milan 5-0 in the final at the Allianz Arena. After more than a decade of near misses and heartbreaks in Europe’s premier competition, PSG’s moment of redemption came in emphatic fashion, completing a treble and sealing a historic night that will be remembered for generations.
From the opening whistle, PSG were relentless. Their energy, movement, and pressing overwhelmed Inter, who struggled to gain any foothold in the game. The breakthrough came early when Achraf Hakimi finished off a slick attacking move initiated by Vitinha and Désiré Doué, setting the tone for the night. By the time Doué made it 2-0 before the halfway point of the first half, the outcome already felt inevitable.
Doué, just 19 years old, was at the heart of PSG’s devastating play. Fearless and composed, he scored a second to make it 3-0 after being set up by the outstanding Vitinha. Inter’s defense was repeatedly pulled apart by PSG’s fluid front line, which featured constant positional rotations and overloads. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia added a fourth with a clinical breakaway finish, and the fifth came from another teenager, Senny Mayulu, who converted a pass from Bradley Barcola to cap off the rout.
Inter, who had entered the final with dreams of European glory for the first time in 15 years, were left shell-shocked. Once in contention for a historic treble, they ended the season empty-handed. Their high defensive line and inability to cope with PSG’s press left them vulnerable throughout. Veteran players like Francesco Acerbi were outpaced and outplayed, epitomized when Barcola beat him with ease in one of many merciless PSG attacks.
Tactically, the contrast between the two sides was stark. PSG’s 4-3-3, despite lacking a traditional center-forward, offered dynamism and unpredictability. Ousmane Dembélé roamed freely, Doué drifted inside, and Hakimi repeatedly surged forward from full-back. Meanwhile, Inter’s more traditional 3-5-2, with twin strikers and a more rigid structure, was exposed repeatedly.
The difference in squad investment also told its own story. Inter’s most expensive recent signings barely scratched €30 million, while only two of PSG’s starters were signed for less than that amount. Yet it wasn’t just money that separated the sides on the night—it was the swagger, cohesion, and tactical fluidity of Luis Enrique’s side that made them unplayable.
Emotion overflowed after the final whistle. The PSG supporters, in disbelief, tried to take pieces of the stadium as mementoes, while a heartfelt tribute was paid to manager Luis Enrique’s late daughter Xana with a giant banner displayed during the celebrations. For a club long haunted by Champions League failures, this victory represented more than silverware—it was a cleansing of painful memories and the realization of a long-pursued dream.
The match ended not with tension but with a celebration of near-perfect football. PSG’s dominance in possession, precision in attack, and steel in defense left no room for doubt. They had not just won the Champions League; they had announced themselves as Europe’s best in breathtaking style.
