Munich has hosted five Champions League finals, and each one has seen a team win the European Cup for the first time. This was a positive sign for PSG as they aimed to follow in the footsteps of Nottingham Forest, Marseille, Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea. And they didn’t half make the most of it, thrashing Barcelona 5-0 – the highest score there has ever been in a Champions League final.
Luis Enrique’s side started the match with vigour, scoring two goals within the first 20 minutes, leaving Inter Milan reeling. Seven players from Inter’s 2023 final defeat against Manchester City were given another chance, but Simone Inzaghe’s side included a 37-year-old centre-back, two players aged 36 and no one under 27.
In contrast, Marquinhos, the captain of PSG and the only player in his 30s, was the sole survivor from the French club’s previous final appearance in 2020.
Any concerns about PSG being overwhelmed by the occasion were quickly dispelled. Enrique’s team showed their intent both with and without the ball, taking the lead in the 12th minute thanks to Hakimi.
The Madrid-born Moroccan, although technically a full-back, plays more like a forward. When Vitinha passed the ball to Ousmane Dembele, he spotted Hakimi unmarked eight yards out and delivered a pass that was impossible to miss.
Hakimi, who spent a year at Inter, refrained from celebrating his ninth goal of the season in front of fans who must have been fearing the worst.
Inter demonstrated their resilience in their dramatic semi-final victory over Barcelona, showing they have the ability to bounce back.
However, they were unable to counter PSG’s precision for the first goal and when the French team scored again, it was their speed and strength that proved too much.
Dembele initiated a blistering attack down the left, drawing a cluster of defenders towards him before passing the ball to Desire Doue. The young player’s powerful shot flew past Inter keeper Yann Somer after deflecting off Federico Dimarco.
When Inter finally regained their composure, only a last-ditch interception from Willian Pacho prevented Marcus Thuram from scoring, who then met Lautaro Martinez’s corner but sent his header wide at the far post.
Inter’s strong end to the half may have prompted Enrique to give his players a reality check during the interval.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia squandered a chance by shooting over the bar and Dembele sent a shot wide of the far post after cutting in from the left.
Inzaghe made several changes but the Inter boss was shown a yellow card when his frustration led to an argument with Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs.
It was Doue who clinched the match in the 63rd minute when Dembele’s clever back heel and Vitinha’s pass set him up to beat Sommer with a low finish.
Ten minutes later, Kvaratskhelia broke free to squeeze a shot between Sommer and his near post.
And substitute Senny Mayulu added the icing on the cake four minutes from time, slamming a fifth in off the near post.
