Inter and PSG end 21-year series
The fact that Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain are playing in the Champions League final puts an end to two long series.
Davide Frattesi (left) and Marquinhos will compete with Inter and PSG in the 2025 Champions League final. imago images (2)
Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain are deservedly in the 2025 Champions League final, but before the season, most people expected other clubs to make it. This may also be due to historical factors.
For the first time since 2010, there will be no Champions League winner from Spain, England, or Germany. Back then, Inter, led by coach José Mourinho, beat FC Bayern 2-0 at the Bernabeu. Since then, the trophy has gone to Real Madrid six times, FC Barcelona, FC Bayern, and FC Chelsea twice each, and to Liverpool and Manchester City once each – meaning eight times to Spain, four to England, and twice to Germany.
It's been 21 years since any club from these three countries even appeared in the final. In 2004, FC Porto – also under Mourinho – defeated AS Monaco 3-0 at Schalke . The only previous final between a French and Italian team was Olympique Marseille's 1-0 victory over AC Milan in 1993.
PSG, which ultimately prevailed decisively against Arsenal in this year's semifinal (1-0/2-1), is chasing its first-ever Champions League title. The capital club's only previous final was a 2020 loss to FC Bayern in Lisbon ( 0-1 ).
Inter and PSG meet for the first time in a competitive matchInter, who defeated FC Barcelona on Tuesday ( 4-3 after extra time after a 3-3 first leg), have already won three times: twice in the European Cup (1964 and 1965) and once in its successor competition, the Champions League (2010). They reached the final in 1967, 1972, and most recently in 2023 ( 0-1 loss against Manchester City ).
Surprisingly, despite both teams' rich European history, there hasn't been a direct clash between Inter and PSG yet. The premiere will take place on May 31 (9 p.m., LIVE! on kicker) in Munich, Germany, on the biggest stage possible.
