Putting in what was a sensational performance on Saturday night, PSG cruised their way to a maiden Champions League crown as they stormed to a 5-0 romp against Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena.
Dominating from the start and flying out of the traps, Luis Enrique’s side got off to a dream start in Munich as one-time Inter Milan defender Achraf Hakimi swept home a wonderful move from the French giants in the opening 12 minutes.
With Gianluigi Donnarumma a spectator for large spells, PSG doubled their lead just eight minutes later as 19-year-old sensation Desire Doue put the Nerazzurri to the sword and almost completely ended Inter’s title dreams before they had even got started.
Writing a major piece of history here and finally cementing their spot as one of Europe’s elite, Doue grabbed his second of the night just after the hour mark as the ex-Rennes ace produced a sublime solo effort.
While Khvicha Kvaratskhelia might have wasted a handful of golden opportunities on either side of the half-time break, the Georgian superstar calmly slotted home to add a fourth in the final 13 minutes.
In what was the most famous night in PSG’s history, academy graduate Senny Mayulu remarkably added a fifth in the final few moments. That strike means that Saturday’s 5-0 victory is the biggest win in a Champions League final.
Completing what has been an iconic silverware sweep across all fronts this season, it is fair to say that PSG could have easily grabbed at least another couple of goals in Munich.
Heading in a completely new direction this season and with a squad that is just glittering with some of European football’s hottest starlets, PSG could be capable of starting a Champions League dynasty over the coming years.
As for Inter Milan, drastically falling short under the bright lights in Munich, the Italian giants will be bracing themselves for another public backlash over the coming days after they relinquished their Serie A title last weekend.
Dominated from the opening whistle and potentially showing some signs of an emotional hangover following on from their domestic heartbreak last week, it has also been suggested that Saturday’s drumming in Munich will be Simone Inzaghi’s final match in charge.
On a night when PSG cruised their way to a maiden Champions League crown, we have taken a look at the main talking points from the Allianz Arena.
PSG finally establish themselves as one of Europe’s elite
Watching Kylian Mbappe complete a blockbuster free transfer to Real Madrid last summer, there was plenty of speculation from across Europe as to how PSG would cope with the talismanic French skipper.
However, breezing their way to a 13th Ligue 1 title and not really having to get out of third gear, the French icons have embarked on a sensational rise under Enrique’s guidance and have now cemented their spot as one of Europe’s elite.
While PSG might have enjoyed a real domestic romp over the past decade, it is no secret that a maiden piece of European silverware has been at the top of their agenda since their Qatari-backed takeover was completed in 2011.
Heading in a far more youthful direction over the past 12 months and now well past the days of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Sergio Ramos, PSG made a famous statement on Saturday night that would have been seen across the continent.
Tearing apart an Inter squad who had come past the likes of newly-corned Spanish champions Barcelona en route to Munich, Enrique’s side will party into the night as the finally wrote their first piece of European history.
Inzaghi looks set to leave Inter with a week to forget
While Inter Milan might have signed off their domestic campaign with a 2-0 victory away at Como last weekend, the Nerazzurri relinquished their Serie A crown to historic rivals Napoli and they travelled out to Munich on Saturday with a tremendous amount of pressure on their shoulders.
Although Inter might have been handed the chance to claim the ultimate immediate response, Inzaghi’s squad suffered a remarkable collapse under the bright lights and they will be bracing themselves for another public backlash.
Completely blown away across all fronts, it is no surprise that many have speculated that their will be somewhat of a complete overhaul behind the scenes at the San Siro this summer.
Although Inzaghi might have guided Inter to Serie A success during the 2023/24 campaign and helped the Nerazzurri reach two Champions League finals over the past three years, it now appears almost certain that Saturday’s drumming in Munich will be his final game in charge.
In what was far from ideal speculation ahead of Saturday’s date with destiny, it has been reported that the former Lazio boss has already agreed to take over at Saudi-based outfit Al Hilal and an announcement could now be imminent.
Doue steals all of the headlines in Munich
While the red-hot Ousmane Dembele might have cemented his spot as the poster boy in Paris after completing a permanent move from Barcelona last summer, it was 19-year-old sensation who stole all of the headlines on Saturday night.
Although some might have felt that it would be Bradley Barcola who would get the nod in Munich, Doue was at the heart of PSG’s iconic performance and underlined why he is regarded as one of Europe’s hottest young attacking starlets.
While the former Rennes ace might have failed to find the net in any of his previous eight appearances across all competitions ahead of Saturday’s showpiece event in Munich, Doue becomes the first played since Gareth Bale in 2018 to bag a Champions League final brace.
Terrorising Federico Dimarco, Doue registered 31 goals and assists across all competitions this season and has certainly written himself into PSG folklore.
Match Report
PSG: Donnarumma, Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes, Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz, Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia
Subs: Ramos, Hernandez, Mayulu, Barcola, Zaire-Emery
Inter Milan: Sommer, Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni, Dimarco, Mkhitaryan, Calhanoglu, Barella, Dumfries, Thuram, Martinez
Subs: Asllani, Augusto, Bisseck, Darmian, Zalewski
Goals: Hakimi (12’), Doue (20’, 63’), Kvaratskhelia (73’), Mayulu (86’)
Yellow Cards: PSG: Hakimi, Doue – Inter Milan: Acerbi, Thuram, Zalewski
Red Cards: N/A
Referee: István Kovács
