Paris Saint Germain vs Inter

After putting three English sides aside in their arduous journey to reach the final, PSG’s thirst for the ‘Big Ears’ will face its toughest test so far, with Inter standing in the way of what could become their first UCL title. Surprisingly, this will be the first competitive meeting between both sides. Thoughts of their last appearance in the UEFA Champions League final against Bayern Munich in 2020 will surely cast a long shadow over Saturday’s final with the Nerazzurri, but Luis Enrique is hoping his side can avoid suffering a similar fate. "I remember an incredible photo I have of her in the Champions League final in Berlin, after winning the Champions League, putting the flag of FC Barcelona in the pitch. I have the wish to be able to do the same with Paris Saint-Germain," he said in an emotional pre-match press conference where he spoke of his late daughter at length. Historically French sides haven't enjoyed much success in fixtures of this importance, having won only two of their 15 major European finals. However, Saturday’s venue could be one to bring good fortunes for PSG. Victors in four of the five European/UEFA Champions League finals played in Munich were maiden winners of the competition. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia returned to training during the week and is expected to team up with Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué in Luis Enrique’s 4—3—3 formation.

Inter also scrapped a few prized scalps on their way to the final, dispatching Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals before emerging as winners in an explosive two-legged semifinal thriller with Barcelona. The three-time UCL champions are looking to add a fourth in what will be their seventh appearance in a European/UCL final. However, the only time an Italian team faced a French outfit in a European final, the Italians went home empty-handed. That was the 1993 UCL final, which ended in AC Milan’s 1-0 defeat to Marseille. What’s more worrying is that the final took place in Munich. "PSG certainly love to play with the ball. They’re tactically a very strong team, with a great coach and top players, and it will be a tricky match,” Marcus Thuram said. The Frenchman is expected to team up with Lautaro Martínez in attack when Inzaghi deploys the familiar 3—5—2 formation.