Champions League final odds: How a win for PSG or Inter could shape their futures

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Picture this: Inter have won the Champions League. Munich rocks, and with it, Milan. Simone Inzaghi's Nerazzurri have thwarted Paris Saint-Germain with old-school tactics and even older midfielders.
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In an alternate universe, however, it's Marquinhos lifting the trophy, not Lautaro Martínez. Luis Enrique's merry band of wunderkind's lap the confetti-laden Allianz Arena. Ousmane Dembélé deservedly seals the Ballon d'Or.
Of course, this is all just speculation. Whichever way the road forks, our writers have penned their thoughts on the betting permutations for each club should they claim Europe's highest honour this Saturday evening.
Sam Tighe: If Paris Saint-Germain win this Champions League final, the first emotion felt might just be relief.
This club's entire modern ethos has been built on winning this trophy, so for someone like Marquinhos, who has been trying (and failing) ever since 2013, the sweet taste of a job finally done might just buckle his knees.
For other, younger, fresher faces to the project, a win would catapult their reputation into the stratosphere. PSG would be the making of them, whereas for those that walked this path before, it was arguably the breaking of them.
It would cement Vitinha and João Neves' status as irrefutably elite central midfielders; it would complete Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's remarkable treble-winning season; it could elevate Nuno Mendes to the title of best left-back in the world; and, perhaps most intriguingly, it could secure Dembélé the Ballon d'Or.
Lamine Yamal is the current favourite to win the trophy, thanks to some thrilling Champions League performances and an excellent, double-winning domestic campaign. But Dembélé is hot on his heels, and over the last few weeks has exchanged places with Yamal as favourite.
The Frenchman's numbers this year have been gaudy. He's racked up 29 goals and 10 assists in Ligue 1 and Champions League play, plus four more goals in cup competitions. Much of that has come in 2025, creating a groundswell of support and appreciation for him — but there's one vital ingredient missing from his case.
Like it or not, a big part of the Ballon d'Or credentials conversation is team success. PSG finally getting over the line in the Champions League is a powerful narrative, and with Dembélé at the centre of it, it might be enough for him to pip Yamal to the post.
Brett Koremenos: An Inter win would send shockwaves through Europe — just not in the way you may think. Sure, if the Nerazzurri vanquish their French foes on Saturday they would become the first Italian side to win the Champions League since 2010. That's a big deal for the club, for Italy and Serie A as a whole. But, what it might really validate is Inter's approach to the sport.
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The Nerazzurri won't have climbed to the mountain's summit because of bottomless funds or because they belong to the world's richest league. Inter have used modest talent acquisition while fanning the last embers of ageing veterans to consistently cobble together rosters that compete for trophies across Europe. Before surmising there is something in the water around Milan (which, I mean, have we investigated this?), perhaps the truth of the matter is Inter's way of doing things is just better. If they fortify that theory with a Champions League title, more teams will try to emulate their approach.
And perhaps one major club already has.
Under Arne Slot, Liverpool were one of the most aggressive, pressing teams in the Premier League. They won the league this season and are 11/5 favourites to win next year. The Reds have also just signed wing-back Jeremie Frimpong (possibly along with Florian Wirtz) to replace the out-going Trent Alexander-Arnold. Slot's tactics this past season didn't include a back three, and Frimpong doesn't replicate most of Alexander-Arnold's primary skills. So, what's going on? Something is changing in Liverpool. I'm putting on my tinfoil hat and saying this feels related to Inter's success.
It's not hard to imagine a team with the intense pressing style of Liverpool (also looking at you, Barcelona) falling off under the immense load of games players have to endure season after season. Despite Marcelo Bielsa's wishes, these players are human and do wear down. Inter's approach, however, makes them far less vulnerable to such a drop-off.
The Nerazzurri have good players, but their back three system, which Antonio Conte passed on to Simone Inzaghi, can throttle the aggression up or down. Hansi Flick at Barcelona is not taking his foot off the gas pedal. And the roles within the formation have also meant that there isn't a single player on the roster that is irreplaceable. But could you imagine what would happen to Liverpool's attack without Mohamed Salah? As long as Inzaghi stays or a new replacement keeps the system alive, I have no doubts Inter will be a factor in the 2025-26 Champions League while also a firm favourite for the Scudetto next season.
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A club like Liverpool, on the other hand, is harder to peg. If my crazy theory is right and Liverpool have signed Frimpong as a nod to Inter's more passive, plug-and-play back three system, give me those 11/5 odds all day. If not, then the best bet is that we will once again be talking about the Nerazzurri's impressive success next season.
It's been a blockbuster week of Champions League betting content from our team. Pour through everything we published:
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