PSG have finally lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy for the first time in their history and just the second time in French football history, over a decade into their Qatari ownership project. After signing stars like Cavani, Zlatan, Neymar, Mbappé, and Messi, it was the Frenchman Ousmane Dembélé who stepped up and led the club to their UCL crown, completing a spectacular treble by defeating Inter Milan 5–0 in the final under the guidance of Luis Enrique.
But how exactly did PSG dominate that final so completely? That’s what I’ll break down here based on what I observed watching the match and hopefully give you a better sense of why this PSG side is so terrifying.
Tactical Superiority from the Start
From the opening whistle, PSG pressed with high intensity, making it clear they meant business. Inter Milan set up in their usual 5-3-2 formation, a shape that typically works well against a 4-3-3 by allowing wingbacks to get support from wide center-backs, while the midfield three helps avoid getting overrun. Inter aimed to draw PSG in and break through with quick, intelligent passes, a tactic that worked well against teams like Barcelona, who tend to play a dangerously high line.
So how did PSG counter that?
By never letting Yann Sommer breathe. Rewatch the final and you’ll notice Dembélé constantly chasing Sommer, forcing rushed decisions. Even though he didn’t actually win the ball directly off Yann Sommer, the pressure disrupted Inter’s build-up. Every time Sommer rushed a pass, PSG had already closed down passing lanes. That either led to turnovers or forced long balls toward Thuram or Lautaro, who could occasionally hold it up but even then, PSG’s midfield dropped quickly to isolate them.
Fluidity in Possession and Clinical Finishing
Now, earlier I mentioned that Inter’s midfield trio should’ve prevented them from getting overrun. But PSG play incredibly fluid, rotational football. Aside from the goalkeeper and center-backs, no player had a fixed role. They build from the wings, with Vitinha often dropping deep into the backline to dictate play, while Hakimi and Nuno Mendes pushed into midfield or attack.
One moment that perfectly illustrates this was PSG’s first goal. Hakimi, playing as a right-back, scored an easy tap-in after a cut-back from Doué, while he was in a striker’s position. Dembélé was positioned towards the far post, while both wingers (Doué and Kvaratskhelia) were overloading on the left alongside Fabián Ruiz. This pulled most of Inter’s defense into the left side of the box, allowing Vitinha to find space just outside the area. He slid a pass into the left channel for Doué, who cut it across for Hakimi to score. That early goal set the tone.
No Time, No Space, No Mercy
From there, PSG stepped into a higher gear, controlling tempo and dictating play. Their midfield ran circles around Inter‘s, who struggled to get on the ball and when they did, PSG immediately swarmed them with a Gegenpress-style system. Think Klopp at his peak: no time, no space, no mercy.
Signs of Inter’s fatigue began to show. In one telling moment, Barella tried shielding the ball for a corner kick, but Pacho kept it in, allowing Kvaratskhelia to receive and progress the ball before playing to Dembélé. He switched it to Doué, whose shot deflected off Dimarco and into the net.
At that point, Inter had a short spell of promise. They strung a few passes together and finally posed some threat, mostly coming from corners and set pieces, most notably headers from Acerbi and Thuram that narrowly missed. But overall, their best opportunities came in the first half.
Second Half: More of the Same
Honestly, Inter looked nervous from the start and were thoroughly outplayed in the first half. I rate Simone Inzaghi highly—he’s turned Inter into one of the most feared sides in Serie A and Europe. But I was surprised there were no halftime changes. Dimarco, in particular, was struggling and looked mentally defeated.
Before the second half even began, you could tell who had the momentum. Inter came out silent. PSG, led by Luis Enrique, were loud, energized, and confident from the tunnel.
Inter tried to press higher to turn things around, but it only made things worse. Their midfield was exhausted by the 60th minute. Vitinha received the ball, and Inter’s midfield tried closing him down, but left a huge gap behind. Dembélé dropped deep, dragged a center-back with him, and backheeled to Vitinha, who ran into open space and found Doué to complete his brace.
Two more goals followed as Inter limped to a 5–0 defeat on the biggest stage. A few weeks earlier, they were dreaming of a treble. Now? They’re trophyless. Losing the Coppa Italia to rivals AC Milan and the Serie A title on the final day may have crushed their spirit, perhaps explaining why they looked mentally beaten before the second half even began. This collapse might go down as one of the worst season-endings in modern European football, reminiscent of Bayer Leverkusen’s infamous meltdown in 2002.
What’s Next for PSG?
As for PSG, this was arguably the most dominant display in a Champions League final in over two decades. What makes it even more terrifying? PSG have one of the youngest squads in Europe. Aside from Fabián Ruiz and Marquinhos, nearly every key player is either 25 or under. That means this team still has room to grow, and they haven’t even hit their prime.