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Associated Press
3 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Champions League trophy has been out of reach for PSG. That could be about to change
MUNICH (AP) — Billions of dollars have been spent. Some of the world's greatest players have come and gone . Yet the Champions League trophy has remained agonizingly out of reach for Paris Saint-Germain. That could be about to change. The Qatari-owned team is one game away from European club soccer's most prestigious prize, with Inter Milan standing in the way in Saturday's final in Munich. 'The motivation for me is to win the Champions League title for the first time for PSG,' coach Luis Enrique said on Friday. 'That is the gift I want to give the people, the club, the city.' PSG is the favorite, with a thrilling young team that has produced stunning performances to get past Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal. It feels like its time has finally come. But Inter is a wily opponent that is in its second final in three seasons and cut down a rampant Barcelona in an epic semifinal — winning 7-6 on aggregate. 'Our opponent, we hold the utmost respect for,' Inter captain Lautaro Martinez said. 'But with the weapons we've got, we want to hit them where it hurts.' The warning signs are there for PSG. A shift in strategy PSG's run to the final has justified a shift in direction from the bling culture of superstar signings to focus more on young French talent. Owned by Qatar Sports Investments since 2011, PSG signed some of the biggest names in soccer including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Kylian Mbappe , Neymar and Lionel Messi without ever getting its hands on the trophy it craves most of all. Messi, Neymar and Mbappe have all gone, and without those iconic figures PSG looks a more complete team. 'It's about being a team, not a group of individuals,' PSG captain Marquinhos said. 'I'm in love with this team. It's a delight to be part of the squad.' PSG's transformation has still come at some cost. Players like Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia were signed for an estimated $240 million combined in a squad assembled at spectacular expense. Meanwhile, Inter has been savvy in the market — signing older players and picking up free agents to put together a team that has reached two Champions League finals in three years — losing to Man City in 2023 — and won one Italian title in that time. Near misses PSG's only previous final was in 2020, a 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich. It was a semifinalist in 2021 and 2024. Elimination in the round of 16 in 2022 and 2023 preceded the decision by president Nasser Al Khelaifi to change his transfer strategy. This year is only the second time since 2011 that three-time champion Inter has advanced beyond the round of 16. Inter last won the Champions League in 2010 under Jose Mourinho. Star players Dembele has been one of the outstanding players in Europe this season with 30 goals in all competitions for PSG, including a run of 24 in 18 games from December to March. Kvaratskhelia was signed from Napoli in January and sparked a turnaround in PSG's fortunes in the Champions League when it looked in danger of being eliminated at the league stage. The Georgian forward was long considered one of the brightest talents in Europe before making the move and has added another dimension to an-already thrilling PSG attack. Midfielders Vitinha and Joao Neves are the engine room, hungrily hunting down the ball when out of possession and springing attacks with the speed of their passing. World Cup winner Lautaro Martinez is Inter's standout player and became the club's all-time leading scorer in the Champions League this season. 'I've won big trophies but I'm missing the Champions League. I'm happy to be in another final. We want to have the perfect game and bring the trophy back to Milan,' the Argentine forward said. Defender Denzel Dumfries played a huge role in beating Barcelona with two goals in the first leg at the Nou Camp and goalkeeper Yann Sommer pulled off a string of saves to keep Inter in the tie in the second leg. The coaches A Champions League winner with Barcelona in 2015, Luis Enrique has won 12 major trophies in spells with the Catalan club and PSG. If French champion PSG triumphs on Saturday he would become the seventh coach to win the Champions League or European Cup with two different teams. The list includes Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola and Mourinho. Victory would come 10 years after his previous title. 'I have peace of mind. I've got 10 years more experience since the last time,' Luis Enrique said. 'It's a wonderful opportunity to play in a final and make history.' Inter's Simone Inzaghi is hoping to win his first Champions League title at the second time of asking after defeat to City two years ago. Then, as now, Inter was the underdog, and came close to upsetting Guardiola's all-conquering City. 'Matches don't come down to wage bills or turnover, it's the players on the pitch,' Inzaghi said. 'We were huge underdogs two years ago and went toe to toe. 'I dreamt of playing the Champions League final. I didn't do it as a player, but thanks to this group of players I've been in two finals as a head coach.' Inzaghi cannot match Enrique's trophy count but has impressed at Inter where he won Serie A last year beside two Italian Cups, his third overall. Only a week ago, Inter surrendered the Serie A title by one point. ___ James Robson is at ___ AP soccer:
New York Post
4 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Champions League Final odds, pick: PSG vs. Inter Milan predictions, best bets
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. The 2024-25 Champions League Final kicks off Saturday afternoon (3 p.m. ET) at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany. Paris Saint-Germain is a -156 favorite to lift the trophy, with Inter Milan sitting at +132 odds. PSG is +110 to win the match inside 90 minutes, with Inter priced as a +250 underdog. A draw has +240 odds. Inter is searching for its fourth Champions League title, but first since 2010, while PSG has infamously never won the trophy. Champions League Final: Inter vs. PSG betting preview This was supposed to be a step-back season for PSG. Les Parisiens lost Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid in the summer, but manager Luis Enrique was able to turn his dynamic, young roster into a juggernaut. PSG ran away with the title in Ligue 1, losing just two games and posting a plus-57 goal difference along the way. Les Parisiens also recorded a plus-57.7 expected goal differential, which was the best mark in Europe's Big 5 leagues. It wasn't a shock that Paris Saint-Germain won Ligue 1, but to see this young roster coalesce in the fashion it did without Mbappe was pretty surprising. Inter, in a lot of ways, is the opposite of PSG. With an average age of 30 years and four months, I Nerazzurri are one of the most experienced squads in Europe. Their likely Starting XI features eight players who took part in their last trip to the Champions League Final two years ago. Manager Simone Inzaghi has been in charge of the club since 2021. PSG supporters will be in full voice in Munich on Saturday. AP Champions League Final: Inter vs. PSG pick The last six Champions League Finals have finished 1-0 or 2-0. They're typically nervy, with both clubs looking to avoid making the mistake that leads to the first goal. I don't think that will be the case Saturday. Get the lowdown on the Best USA Sports Betting Sites and Apps PSG will want to engage Inter and turn this into a track meet, while Inter will want the opposite to happen. That should lead to a pretty frenetic tempo, with both teams feeling uncomfortable when the other is in control. You'll always get a discount on backing the over in Champions League Finals, and a match with plenty of scoring favors PSG. Same-game parlay: PSG Over 2.5 goals (+198, FanDuel) Why Trust New York Post Betting Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
BBC News
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Uefa Champions League final: Inter vs PSG who go win?
Di Uefa Champions League final go happun today for di Allianz Arena, Munich. Paris St-Germain go face Internationale wey dey popular as Inter Milan for di final. PSG dey hope to win dia first Uefa Champions League title while Inter dey aim to win dia fourth title. Di name dat time na di European Champion Clubs' Cup and Inter Milan first win am for di 1963/ 1964 season. Dem defend am for di 1964 and 1965 season. Dia most recent win na for di 2009/2010 seasonwen denm beat Bayern Munich 2-0. PSG just dey one game away from making history and for Manager Luis Enrique, di journey to di Champions League final bin start wen di era of ogbonge players for di team end. Kylian Mbappe comot from di club to join Real Madrid last summer. Neymar and Lionel Messi bin also don comot from Paris. Dis movement clear road for PSG to switch strategy under coach Luis Enrique. Enrique bin convince di club President Nasser al-Khelaifi and football advisor Luis Campos say im go fit build a younger, better side. If Enrique win dis trophy for di first time for PSG, e go mean say di Austrian fit make anytin possible. Dem appoint Enrique for July 2023 wey be clear sign say PSG dey comot from di superstar culture. Dis na di first time di two clubs go meet for Champions League and na di second final between teams from France and Italy afta 1992/93 decider wen Marseille beat Milan 1-0 for di Olympiastadion, Munich. PSG bin lose di 2020 final to Bayern München for Lisbon meanwhile Inter Milan don win am three times and di last time dem win am na for 2010. Wetin di coaches dey tok Luis Enrique wey be PSG coach tell Uefa .com say : "We don grown well-well dis season and di players don make progress well-well too. I tink di strength of di team na di most important tin. You learn sometin evriday afta many years of experience as coach, and I dey improve evritime wit dis group. "Wetin dey ginger me na to win di Champions League for di first time wit Paris. I want dis as a gift for di team, for di club, for di city. My team know how to unpick teams like dis and how to get dat tight-knit defence to break up. I dey very optimistic." Simone Inzaghi wey be Inter coach tok say: "Di players dey determined to win; dem no dey obsessed, we no want dat. We dey proud to be Inter. I bin don dream of playing di Champions League final; I no do am as a player, but I thank dis group of players, na dia second time my in three years as a coach. "We need to face Paris knowing say moments wey we go suffer go dey and oda moments wen we go get di ball and dem go need to defend go dey too. Details and moments dey important." Head to head For di France Ligue 1 table PSG win di league while Inter Milan finish 2nd for Serie A. Inter Milan and PSG don meet six times for all competitions. PSG win three, Inter Milan win two and dem draw one. PSG don will all dia last six matches for all competitions while Inter win four out of dia last six matches for all competitions.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Champions League Final, PSG vs Inter Milan: Date, Time in IST, Live Streaming
Can Paris Saint-Germain get their hands on a first-ever Champions League title or will Inter prevail in Munich? A lot is at stake as the top club competition in Europe comes to a close. The final, set to be played at Allianz Arena, home to Bayern Munich, will be the first time the two sides meet in the competition. Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan are set to face off in the Champions League final on Saturday at Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena, with PSG seeking their first European title and Inter pursuing their fourth. The match represents a clash between PSG, a side still in the hunt for a maiden Champions League crown and Inter, a team that boasts European pedigree. PSG's journey to the final comes after significant changes, including the departures of stars Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, and Lionel Messi. Their previous final appearance was in 2020, when they lost to Bayern Munich 1-0. ' Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! "There have been great times, difficult times, but we have a glorious opportunity to do something remarkable and historic for this club," said PSG captain Marquinhos ahead of the final. Under Spanish coach Luis Enrique, PSG has emerged as a formidable force, defeating four Premier League teams on their way to the final, while securing a domestic double. "My biggest motivation is to make history for Paris and give the city and club something to celebrate," said Luis Enrique, who aims to win his second Champions League title after his 2015 success with Barcelona. Bombay Sport Exchange Ep 5: Shane Watson on how IPL gave him a lifeline & his tribute to Phil Hughes The French side has been led by Ousmane Dembele's 33 goals, supported by forwards Desire Doue, Bradley Barcola, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, along with strong performances from Achraf Hakimi and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025: Steel Suppliers From Mexico At Lowest Prices (Take A Look) Steel Suppliers | search ads Search Now Undo Inter Milan, the last Italian winners in 2010, will go through a very familiar feeling in the final, with eight players potentially starting from their 2023 final loss to Manchester City. "Last time against Manchester City we produced a top-class performance but didn't win, so this time we hope to be a bit more switched on," said midfielder Nicolo Barella, reflecting on their previous final appearance. Poll Who do you think will win the Champions League final between PSG and Inter Milan? Paris Saint-Germain Inter Milan The match marks the first-ever competitive meeting between these two clubs, with Inter reaching the final after defeating Bayern Munich and PSG by beating Barcelona. If victorious, PSG would become only the second French team to win the Champions League, following Marseille's 1993 triumph, which also occurred in Munich. With a capacity of 75,000, the Allianz Arena, home to German champions Bayern Munich will host the two sides as they go head-to-head for European glory. When is the Champions League final? The Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter will kick off at 12:30 AM IST on Sunday, June 1, 2025. How to watch the Champions League final in India? The 2024/25 Champions League final between PSG and Inter will be broadcast live on Sony Ten 2 and Sony Ten 2 HD. The final will also be streamed live on the Sony LIV app and website.
News.com.au
8 hours ago
- Business
- News.com.au
PSG and Inter Milan set for Champions League final showdown
Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan lock horns in Saturday's Champions League final with the French side hoping to win European club football's biggest prize for the first time and the Italians eyeing their fourth title. The match, which kicks off at Bayern Munich's 75,000-capacity Allianz Arena at 9:00pm (1900 GMT), pits an experienced Inter against a PSG team appearing in their second final since the transformative Qatari takeover of the club in 2011. Whoever wins will succeed Real Madrid as champions, and excitement is notably at fever pitch back in Paris. Around 40,000 people will watch on giant screens at PSG's Parc des Princes and over 5,000 police officers will be deployed around the city in an attempt to prevent trouble. The match will be a mouthwatering clash of opposing styles and ideas of how to build a team, a contest between one of the continent's old guard and one of the state-owned modern superclubs. Despite enormous spending, PSG have never won the Champions League, coming closest when they reached the final in 2020. That was during the pandemic, when they lost to Bayern behind closed doors in Lisbon, despite the presence of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar up front. The addition of Lionel Messi in 2021 did not help them in their quest to claim the trophy, and their brilliant run to Munich has come in the season after Mbappe followed the South American duo out of the exit door. - 'Do something historic' - "There have been great times, difficult times, but we have a glorious opportunity to do something remarkable and historic for this club," captain Marquinhos said on Friday. Under coach Luis Enrique, an exciting young Paris side has taken Europe by storm in recent months, with a comeback win in January against 2023 champions Manchester City the catalyst. PSG have since knocked out three more Premier League sides -- Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal -- en route to the final, and completed a French league and cup double. Ousmane Dembele has been their star player with 33 goals, but others like ex-Inter full-back Achraf Hakimi and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma have also been superb. "My biggest motivation is to make history for Paris and give the city and club something to celebrate," said Luis Enrique, who is looking to win his second Champions League, 10 years after leading Barcelona to glory. Victory for PSG would make them just the second French winners of the competition -- Marseille's 1993 triumph also came in Munich, at the old Olympic Stadium, against Inter's city rivals AC Milan. - Italian experience - Inter were the last Italian winners, when Jose Mourinho's side defeated Bayern in 2010. They also won it twice in successive years in the 1960s. Coach Simone Inzaghi was already in charge when the Nerazzurri got to the final two years ago and lost to City. As many as eight of the team that started then in Istanbul could do so again here, and an experienced line-up should feature three players aged 36 or over. Inzaghi's side beat Bayern in the quarter-finals and Barcelona in an epic tie in the last four. "Last time against Manchester City we produced a top-class performance but didn't win, so this time we hope to be a bit more switched on," said midfielder Nicolo Barella. "These matches come down to fine margins, but we will try to bring home the trophy, that is the dream for all of us," added Barella, whose side just missed out to Napoli for the Serie A title. "We have earned respect in this competition," added skipper Lautaro Martinez. "We have worked hard to get here and now we have the chance to reach this target that Inter have been chasing for 15 years." It is, remarkably, the first competitive encounter between the teams. Whoever wins will walk away with over 100 million euros ($113.5m) in prize money from UEFA. While supporters flood into the German city, back in Paris fanzones have been set up at three locations beyond PSG's stadium. Violence erupted following PSG's last-four victory against Arsenal and one leading supporters group called for any fan celebrations on Saturday to not go overboard. The Paris Ultras Collective (CUP) asked that "whether the outcome be an explosion of joy or a lesson learned, remain proud and behave in an exemplary way". In Milan, meanwhile, tens of thousands will also watch the game at Inter's San Siro stadium. as/mw
