Paris Saint-Germain vs. Inter score: PSG crowned Champions League winners for first time with blowout victory

A brilliant attacking display saw the Parisians finally conquer Europe

Paris Saint-Germain have finally done it. For the first time in their history, PSG lifted the Champions League trophy following a 5-0 victory over Inter in Munich on Saturday, marking the most lopsided score in UCL final history. Led by 19-year-old Desire Doue, who became the youngest player ever with a goal and an assist in a Champions League final, he finished with two goals as PSG delivered in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year after the summer departure of Kylian Mbappe. 

Achraf Hakimi scored the winner early on for PSG, bagging the goal against his former club and not celebrating it while apologizing to the Inter supporters. Senny Mayuli, another one of PSG's young talents, added the fifth goal late on. With Khvicha Kvaratskhelia grabbing a goal and Ousmane Dembele assisting two of his own, all the PSG stars shined to change history for the club.

On the season, PSG manager Luis Enrique was able to create a setup that got the best out of each of the players and has become the seventh manager to win the Champions League with two different clubs, while also capping off PSG's excellent season with a treble.

PSG may not have maintained an undefeated season in the league, but winning Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and the Champions League, they've become the first team to win a treble that included a UCL title since Manchester City in 2022-23. Both of those trebles involved defeating Inter in the final.

With how young this PSG side is, we could be looking at the beginning of soccer's next dynasty. In the lineup to start the final, six players are 25 years of age or younger. Enrique is a manager who has been there and done that, and Dembele and Kvaratskhelia are genuine stars. It's the opposite of an aging Inter side that they defeated, which couldn't get much going and could go into next season with a new manager on the docket. The interest in Simone Inzaghi from Al-Hilal is real, and with the dust settled on the final, who knows if it could lead to him coaching in the Club World Cup with the Saudi side.

Here are some takeaways from the match:

Desire Doue's impact

At only 19, it didn't take long for Doue to adjust to the needs of performing for a top club. Moving to PSG from Stade Rennais during the summer, he was able to win the starting job on the wing and ran with it. Not only did he have a brace and an assist in the final, but Doue contributed 15 goals and 14 assists in all competitions for PSG, growing by the day. Alongside Dembele and Kvaratskhelia, an attacker needs to be able to do a little bit of everything to fit in, and Doue has been able to do just that. Along with the midfield balance for PSG, Doue taking the reins in the attack is a large reason why this feels like the start of something special for PSG instead of them just getting the first UCL title in their history.

Where do Inter go from here?

One of the oldest clubs in the tournament, losing their second final in the last three seasons, it feels like a window closing for Inter. They fell in the Coppa Italia and were unable to retain the Scudetto. Not only would a change at manager be an issue, but how much longer does their midfield have in them as well? It could be a big summer for Inter on how they respond to the disappointment that they have faced, and to stay among Serie A's elite with the return of Napoli to the Champions League, much will need to be done.

An emotional moment for Enrique

After losing his daughter Xana in 2019 to a battle with bone cancer, Enrique has made sure to honor her memory since, and there was a tifo in the stands in honor of her in the lead-up to the match. Enrique also changed his shirt after the match to one designed on behalf of the Xana Foundation to honor her memory. The shirt was a reference to when Enrique and Xana planted the Barcelona flag following Barcelona's win in the UCL final 10 years ago. 

[May 31, 2025 at 4:57 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

PSG wins the first Champions League in their history

Not only is this a massive success for PSG but it's also the first UCL title won by a Ligue 1 team since Marseille did it in 1993. This is quite a time for the Parisians, and Desire Doue, at only 19, was able to pace his team to victory with two goals and an assist. This is the largest margin of victory in a UCL final eve, and this could be a look at soccer's next dynasty. 

[May 31, 2025 at 4:48 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

GOAL! PSG 5, Inter 0

It's a record victory as PSG Senny Mayulu adds another goal. He has added to Inter's poor showing in the final, and a five-goal margin of victory is the largest in history. Talk about getting your first UCL title in club history in style.

[May 31, 2025 at 4:45 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Barcola misses the chance at history

PSG could've secured the largest margin of victory in a UCL final but Bradley Barcola was only able to fire his shot into he side netting. There are still five more minutes remaining to chase more history. 

[May 31, 2025 at 4:34 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

GOAL! PSG 4, Inter 0

This is beyond a route with PSG now ahead by four goals as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has now gotten a goal to go with his exploits. There's still 16 minutes remaining and a chance to make this the most lopsided victory in UCL final history. Luis Enrique is loving it.

[May 31, 2025 at 4:26 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

GOAL! PSG 3, Inter 0

It's Doue again now with a brace and this game is out of sight. PSG is having fun out there, flying up and down the pitch, and Inter can't do anything about it.

[May 31, 2025 at 4:22 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Inter can't stop PSG from doing anything

Hakimi is streaking past the entire Inter defense, and next thing you know, PSG is through on goal. Time is dwindling to get back into this and Inter will make more changes but with 29 minutes left, it may not be enough to turn the tide. Bissek has picked up an injury after entering and will be replaced by Darmian.

[May 31, 2025 at 4:15 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Here comes the changes for Inter

Benjamin Pavard and Federico Dimarco both exit with Yann Bissek and Nicola Zalweski entering. Dimarco has had a match to forget so it shouldn't come as a surprise that he's withdrawn while this match was Pavard's return from injury so he was never going to go 90 minutes.

[May 31, 2025 at 4:08 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Picking up where they left off

Right out of the half PSG are pushing for more goals. Their best fendese has been attack this season so there's no reason to not continue how they know to play.

[May 31, 2025 at 3:57 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

We've reached the halfway point

It's still all PSG but Inter tried to generate some chances at the into of the half. They'll need much more to overturn this two-goal advantage, but will also run the risk of allowing more goals to PSG if they open things up too much. This match is far from over but PSG will feel quite confident about their chances.

[May 31, 2025 at 3:38 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Inter's growing into he game a little 

They finally got the ball into the PSG box, earning a corner kick which Thuram drove wide of goal. While it didn't end in a goal, any sense of positivity ahead of the half is important for Inter.

[May 31, 2025 at 3:30 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Let's talk about Desire Doue 

Only 19, the Frenchman has a goal and an assist in the early going of the match to put PSG ahead 2-0. This is his first season with PSG after joining from Stade Rennais during the summer, and it has been a breakout performance. Winning the winger role from Bradley Barcola, Doue has broken out for 14 goals and 14 assists in all competitions, including four goals and three assists only in UCL play. He's doing what he can to lead PSG to their first UCL title.

[May 31, 2025 at 3:23 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

GOAL! PSG 2, Inter 0

This time it's Desire Doue to put PSG ahead 2-0. The buildup up play was excellent with Ousmane Dembele leading the charge and then he picked out Doue, who got a little help in putting the ball in the back of the net with a deflection off of Dimarco. This is a nightmare start for Inter with PSG ahead by two goals only 21 minutes into the match.

[May 31, 2025 at 3:14 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

GOAL! PSG 1, Inter 0

It's Hakimi!!!

PSG opens the scoring with a beautiful team goal, and Hakimi is in the center of the box to knock it home. This says something about PSG's setup that Hakimi was the one in a striker's position to finish things off, giving PSG the early lead. Inter's defense, especially Federico Dimarco, has some questions to answer after that but there's plenty of time left in the match for an equalizer.

[May 31, 2025 at 3:09 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

PSG with chances from a set play

Aiming for Marquinhos, it took a few times to find him in the middle but the Parisians were able to find him with a header going over Yann Sommer's net. So far, PSG has controlled possession as expected but the counters haven't been there for Inter with PSG coming in prepared.

[May 31, 2025 at 3:03 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

And we're off

Both teams have had early turnovers as they look to settle into the tie. With the last nine UCL finals being won by the team who scored the first goal, a fast start could be important. 

[May 31, 2025 at 3:01 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

PSG 0, Inter 0 (1H)

[May 31, 2025 at 2:56 pm ET · James Benge]

Kick off is rapidly approaching

Inter great Javier Zanetti and Javier Pastore, a bit of a cult hero in PSG, are bringing the trophy out onto the pitch. A violinist unleashes what is certainly a version of Seven Nation Army. Can't anything just happen organically?

A fan of Paris Saint-Germain reacts as he holds up a scarf Getty Images

Fans of Inter show their support Getty Images

Anyway the teams are in the tunnels. The fans are very, very ready. It won't be long before we're up and running so it's time to hand things over to Chuck Booth. All yours.

[May 31, 2025 at 2:46 pm ET · James Benge]

15 minutes to go

We're so close now to the final act of the club season. It'll be Paris Saint-Germain or Inter. Who've you got? Let us know!

Oh also Linkin Park are on the pitch. Yeah. I guess. I'm sure that's exciting for quite literally some people in the crowd.

[May 31, 2025 at 2:38 pm ET · James Benge]

Champions League team of the tournament

Yes, yes, I know there's still a game left to go but either way, I've gone ahead and picked our team of the tournament. Maybe it'll change off the back of 90/120 minutes but probably not. After all, it'd take something quite incredible to unseat those two you can see below.

Champions League team of the tournament: Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and PSG's Ousmane Dembele headline

James Benge

[May 31, 2025 at 2:24 pm ET · James Benge]

A battle of the ages

Everyone knew at the start of this season that PSG were in a rebuild, one that has settled in far quicker than anyone might reasonably have expected. This is a side set up for the future and with an average age of 24 years and 262 days through the Champions League one that might have its best days ahead of it.

You probably couldn't say that of Inter. Their average age: 30 years, 19 days. I want to really, really emphasise that there's nothing old about that. Indeed Inter are young bucks by any metric other than those we have in football. But still... this might be a last roll of the dice for the Nerazzuri.

[May 31, 2025 at 2:12 pm ET · James Benge]

Even more Champions League

It's official! Paramount+ will be the home of the women's Champions League through to the 2029-30 season, all 75 matches across the season live, just as you can follow every game in the men's competition. This is going to be good! Read more here

[May 31, 2025 at 2:01 pm ET · James Benge]

Two big (and unsurprising) calls

I can't remember a Champions League final with so little selection drama in the lead up to the game. The only scintilla of a question was whether Yann Aurel Bisseck would be fit enough to play in the Inter back three but even then it was not necessarily guaranteed that he would be preferred to Benjamin Pavard who starts anyway.

Meanwhile for PSG Desire Doue has established himself as the favored third man in the front three and he holds on to his jersey ahead of Bradley Barcola, who profiles to be one of the few in either side who can make a big impact off the bench.

[May 31, 2025 at 1:51 pm ET · James Benge]

Confirmed lineups

PSG XI: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Joao Neves, Vitinha, Fabian; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia
Subs: Safonov, Tenas, Kimpembe, Goncalo Ramos, Lee, L. Hernandez, Mayulu, Barcola, Zaire-Emery, Lucas Beraldo, Mbaye

Inter XI: Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Thuram
Subs: Di Gennaro, Martinez, De Vrij, Zielinski, Arnautovic, Frattesi, Asllani, Augusto, Bisseck, Darmian, Zalewski, Taremi

[May 31, 2025 at 1:42 pm ET · James Benge]

Player to watch: Achraf Hakimi

Inter, for whom Achraf Hakimi patrolled the right flank before being snared away by Les Parisiens in 2021, will know this player's qualities only too well. Just as he was in Milan, Hakimi can function as a one-man right flank as required.

Certainly, he is extremely effective on the front foot, trailing only Barcola and Dembele in terms of penalty box touches. Any full back averaging over two shots per 90 is a serious attacking threat, particularly when they're hit as well as the one he scored against Arsenal in the semifinal second leg. Though that came from broken play, it speaks to one of Hakimi's great qualities, his ability to step infield and cause as much danger as he does on the overlap. Plenty of fullbacks can make devastating runs on the overlap, a growing number can also affect the game with underlapping runs and stepping infield. As his touch map below hints at, Hakimi can do both.

Attacking half actions points by Achraf Hakimi in the 2024-25 Champions League TruMedia

As Hakimi, now in his seventh season playing for an elite European club, has developed his defensive chops have greatly improved. That he can effectively counter-press when caught up field goes some way to making PSG one of the most effective out-of-possession elite sides. Only 10 players have won possession in the attacking third more than the Moroccan this season, and it shouldn't surprise you to learn that none of them are defenders. Get him going backwards, and he still has the athleticism to catch anyone. If he can overcome Bastoni and Federico Dimarco, making the latter focus on defending rather than the threat he can pose in the final third, then Hakimi could have as sizeable an impact on this contest as anyone.

[May 31, 2025 at 1:22 pm ET · James Benge]

Our expert predictions

Talk about bulletin board material, every one of our experts is going for a PSG win:

Here's what Pardeep Cattry had to say in picking a 2-0 win for PSG:

The big question of this Champions League final is if Paris Saint-Germain's impressive offense is actually that hard to beat and while Inter are a formidable foe, there are a lot of reasons to answer that question in the affirmative. Manager Luis Enrique has envisioned a unique style of play that catches opponents by surprise every time they hit the pitch and it's hard to envision that Inter will feel differently in their first-ever competitive match against PSG. Teams may figure out a way to defeat this version of PSG at some point, but that feels more like a development for next season than something that could happen on Saturday.

Spot on if you ask me. Then again, I picked the same scoreline.

[May 31, 2025 at 1:03 pm ET · James Benge]

How they got here: Inter

Compared to PSG's dramatic rush through the league phase, Inter eased into the last 16 outright, losing only one of their eight league phase games while beating Arsenal and drawing away to Manchester City. Only Bayer Leverkusen overcame them and in dramatic late fashion but still Inzaghi's men were in the top four.

They were rewarded with a fairly favorable opening tie against Feyenoord but after that it was as tough as it could get. Inter won brilliantly away to Bayern Munich, Davide Frattesi striking late on (get used to that), before holding out for a 2-2 draw in the San Siro. The goals flowed generously for both Barcelona and Inter in the semis, both legs of which ended 3-3 in normal time. Then came Frattesi in the 99th minute, a seventh European Cup final secured.

[May 31, 2025 at 12:37 pm ET · James Benge]

Battle of the goalkeepers

Two of the stars of this tournament have been between the sticks for the finalists. Gianluigi Donnarumma has been infuriating English teams for months -- just like it's Euro 2020 -- while Yann Sommer has been in heroic form right the way through the competition, most of all in the semifinals. But who will having the most telling impact? The Golazo crew break it down in the video below:

[May 31, 2025 at 12:20 pm ET · James Benge]

Best bets

Chuck Booth picked out some of his best bets for today. Here's where he's looking at money being made:

Hakan Calhanoglu to have 1+ shot on target from outside the box (+200)

Neither team playing in this final has met a shot that they don't like, and for Hakan Calhanoglu, his technique from free kicks makes him one of the most dangerous attackers in the world. Gianluigi Donnarumma will be tough to beat in net for PSG, but one place where Inter may have the edge is when it comes to orchestrating set plays. Even if they don't get free kicks from good shooting positions, Calhanoglu won't be afraid to let the ball fly when needed, trying to secure a trophy for his side.

PSG to win (+120)

While there were some injury concerns for Enrique, the biggest is almost behind him with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia returning to training. With that, PSG will be able to impose their will, looking to make things happen from everywhere on the pitch. Of course, Inter won't make it easy for PSG to pull out a victory, but there is so much talent on the Parisian side. Ousmane Dembele has been in an amazing run of form as a Ballon d'Or contender, and that combined with their balance in midfield will be enough to get this done in regulation.

First half to end in a draw (+105)

This may be an open match, but that doesn't mean that it will get off to a fast start. Even if a team does score in the first half, it's likely that the other team will find a way for an equalizer. Most likely, they'll feel each other out in the first 15 minutes or so before the game begins to open up with the keepers and defenders being called into action before the second half.

[May 31, 2025 at 12:05 pm ET · James Benge]

How they got here: PSG

Who could have imagined in the early weeks of this competition that PSG would find themselves in the Champions League final. For a while it seemed that merely getting to the knockout stages was in doubt after four points from their first five games, which included defeats to Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich. PSG roared back in the new year, however, securing 15th place with wins over Manchester City and VfB Stuttgart.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Ousmane Dembele of PSG celebrates scoring his penalty during the penalty shootout of the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at Anfield on March 11, 2025 in Liverpool, England. / Getty Images

From there on Luis Enrique's side have been relentless, starting with the 10-0 aggregate crushing of Brest. It wasn't quite as straightforward in the next two rounds but a penalty shootout win over Liverpool and 5-4 aggregate win over Aston Villa flattered their opponents more than PSG. Then Ousmane Dembele got them out in front four minutes into the first leg of the semifinal and Les Parisiens never really looked back, beating Arsenal 3-0 on aggregate. So here they are, bidding to go one better than the defeated finalists of 2020.

[May 31, 2025 at 10:04 am ET · James Benge]

Predicted lineups

Not too long now until Luis Enrique and Simone Inzaghi name their XIs. Here's what we're expecting:

Paris Saint-Germain: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho, Marquinhos, Achraf Hakimi, Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, Joao Neves, Ousmane Dembele, Deserie Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Inter Milan: Yann Sommer, Yann Bisseck, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni, Denzel Dumfries, Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Federico Dimarco, Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram