Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League for the first time in its history by brilliantly defeating (5-0) Inter Milan in the final held this Saturday at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
It was a historic night for the French club with Spanish coach Luis Enrique on the sidelines and a brace from Desire Doue.
The first edition of the Champions League with a new format was won by PSG, who, from strength to strength, culminated their great season with an exhibition to debut their trophy cabinet in the European Cup in a big way. Achraf Hakimi, the two goals from Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Senny Mayulu redeemed the Parisians from the final lost in 2020.
How was PSG’s victory?
Luis Enrique’s plan far outperformed Simone Inzaghi’s to seal the hat-trick and leave Milan’s teams scoreless. PSG was cold from the start, as if they knew they were superior, focused on defense against Inter’s attempts to push forward. The French team did not allow themselves to be surprised and played with ease, controlling possession and making changes upfront that dismantled the opposing structure.
Doué, Kvaratskhelia, and Dembélé wreaked havoc on the Inter defense, providing passing lanes to Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz. It was PSG who weaved communications in the opponent’s field until, at the 12th minute, hidden from the Italian radar, Doué and Achraf Hakimi appeared for the easy 1-0 goal in the small area of the former Inter player.
Shortly after, following a deadly counterattack after Willian Pacho’s save on a ball that seemed like a corner kick, Dembélé spotted Doué on the other side and the young forward scored the 2-0 with a rebound off Federico Dimarco, who once again found himself in the spotlight just like on the first goal. The final was speaking French at the 20-minute mark and dozens of flares flooded the Parisian area of the Allianz Arena.
Inzaghi’s team appeared on set pieces, with Francesco Acerbi and Marcus Thuram, and Luis Enrique set aside the excitement to motivate his players when it was time to calm down for the final. PSG returned to their strength, having possession of the ball, and went into halftime with three more chances. Dembélé missed, Doué and Kvaratskhelia shot wide, and the Georgian had another header opportunity.
After the break, Inter tried to get back into the fight, pressing with more heart than football without finding Nicolo Barella and, further up, Lautaro Martinez. PSG needed very little to approach the goal, a feeling that soon became a reality. While Inzaghi made necessary changes, Doué became a star in Europe.
At 18 years old, one of Luis Enrique’s inventions, scored a brace in the performance against Inter: a backheel by Dembélé and a perfect pass by Vitinha. The MVP of the final left his place to Bradley Barcola who could also score a great goal in Munich, but the fourth one was by Kvaratskhelia, running behind the opposing defense.
Another young player, like Senny Mayulu, had the honor of scoring the 5-0 in the 86th minute, in another futsal play of a PSG that knocked down the door with the biggest victory in a European Cup final.
A historic thrashing by PSG
By volume, PSG’s victory over Inter is the biggest win in a Champions League final since Real Madrid beat Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3 in Glasgow in 1960. In terms of goal difference, football history has never seen a victory like the one achieved by the Parisian team in the main European club tournament.
Since the purchase of PSG in 2011 by Qatar Sports Investments, money seemed to have the obligation to win, but it was Luis Enrique, ten years after winning with FC Barcelona, who achieved it by knowing how to build a team in the first season without Kylian Mbappé.