💫 Three questions ahead of the Champions League final

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a day ago

All eyes are on Munich on Saturday night where the Champions League final will be decided between Inter and PSG.
We look at the big questions that will be answered at the Allianz Arena.
Too close to call?
It may be a surprise to many but this fixture actually represents the first ever meeting between these giants of the game.
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Interestingly though, it is the second ever French-Italian final in this competition in any guise. On that occasion, Marseille defeated Milan 1-0 (the only time a French side has won it) - and that final also took place in Munich.
It will be Inter's seventh final appearance (winning three of their previous clashes) and is just the second for PSG, having lost to Bayern Munich in 2020.
They have been the outstanding sides in this year's competition, along with Barcelona, and are fitting finalists in a game that is very much poised on a knife edge.
The tactical battle pitting Simone Inzaghi's tried and trusted defensive trio flanked by his always dangerous wing-backs going up against Luis Enrique's fearless youthful forward line promises plenty of excitement.
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Between the posts, both coaches can be confident too. Ex-Milan man Gianluigi Donnarumma has excelled throughout the knockout phase, while Yann Sommer has prevented more goals than any other keeper in the competition this season (-5.9) based on the xG quality of effort faced.
We can't call it. Are you brave enough to do so? Let us know in the comments.
Who will Luis Enrique pick?
It is incredible to think that in the first post-Kylian Mbappé season at the Parc des Princes, they now stand 90 minutes away from winning the one thing he couldn't deliver in all his years in Paris.
Even when flanked by superstars like Lionel Messi, Neymar and Ángel Di María, the closest he and his team-mates came was a silver medal in 2020.
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But now a new, fresh, crop of exciting PSG attacking youngsters have them on the verge of glory - and who could have predicted that in November following their horrific start to the early league phase.
They've now found their feet and have largely been aided by the form of star young duo Bradley Barcola and Désiré Doué, who leave their coach with his only major headache of the final.
Which prodigious young talent should he opt for in attack?
Last weekend, Barcola got the nod in the Coupe de France final against Reims and scored twice early to propel his side to a 3-0 win, showing that he's very much a man in form, although it is worth noting that Doué also started due to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia suffering a migraine but the Georgian will retake his place at the expense of one of them this time.
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In the Champions League, their statistics are identical this year - both scoring three and assisting three which will not help Enrique with his conundrum.
Who should he choose? Let us know in the comments.
Duo's duel for the Ballon d'Or?
Victory in the Champions League can often play a decisive part in determining the Ballon d'Or winner - particularly in a year without a major international tournament adding another layer of competition.
And while it is not the determining factor, a big performance from either Lautaro Martínez or Ousmane Dembélé in helping their side to victory could go some way towards strengthening their case.
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Raphinha and Lamine Yamal will both be in the shake-up too but with both the Inter and PSG men proving pivotal in their semi-final victories, following it up with a trophy-delivering performance in Germany could propel them over the edge.
Martínez has found the net in the last 16, quarter-final and semi-final this season and could become just the sixth man to score at each knockout stage if he can also find the net here, while he also stands to become the first ever Nerazzurri player to reach double figures in a single European campaign (he currently sits on nine).
Dembélé's credentials are equally impressive - having been directly involved in 12 Champions League goals this season (scoring eight and providing four assists) which is the most ever for a PSG player in a single campaign, while only Zlatan Ibrahimović with 10 has netted more.
Who gets your Ballon d'Or vote as things stand? Let us know in the comments!
📸 Matthias Hangst - 2016 Getty Images