PSG vs Inter Milan Lineups: UCL Final 2025 Starting XIs

PSG dismantled Inter Milan 5-0 in the 2025 Champions League final at Allianz Arena — a dominant display that vindicated pre-match favoritism and delivered the French club’s first European crown. Luis Enrique’s 4-3-3 overwhelmed Simone Inzaghi’s 3-5-2 from the opening minutes, with five different scorers confirming the result as a systemic success rather than individual brilliance.

Final Score: PSG 5-0 Inter Milan · Date: 31 May 2025 · Competition: UEFA Champions League Final · PSG Goalkeeper: G. Donnarumma · Inter Goalkeeper: Y. Sommer

Who scored in Inter Milan vs PSG?

PSG’s attacking trio overran Inter’s backline from the opening minutes. Achraf Hakimi opened the scoring at the 12th minute, capitalizing on space behind Inter’s wing-backs. Desire Doue then struck twice in quick succession — at 20 minutes and again at 63 minutes — the second coming after he had already set up an earlier chance. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia added a fourth at 73 minutes, before substitute Mayulu completed the rout at 86 minutes, according to Sky Sports.

Key goal scorers

• Achraf Hakimi — 12′
• Desire Doue — 20′, 63′ (2 goals)
• Khvicha Kvaratskhelia — 73′
• Mayulu — 86′

Match timeline

PSG scored early and often, with three of their five goals arriving within the first 25 minutes. Inter’s best chance came and went without reward, and by the time substitutes began cycling in mid-second half, the outcome was beyond doubt.

The pattern was unmistakable: PSG’s wide forwards exposed Inter’s wing-back system, and Doue’s movement between the lines created numerical advantages in the final third that Inter’s central defenders could not resolve.

What were the PSG vs Inter Milan lineups?

This was the first competitive meeting between the two clubs, per Football Italia confirmed report. Luis Enrique opted for a high-tempo 4-3-3, while Simone Inzaghi selected his strongest available 3-5-2 with no rotation, as reported by SempreInter.

PSG starting XI

• Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma
• Defenders: Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos (captain), Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes
• Midfielders: Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, Joao Neves
• Forwards: Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
• Formation: 4-3-3
• Coach: Luis Enrique

Inter Milan starting XI

• Goalkeeper: Yann Sommer
• Defenders: Benjamin Pavard, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni
• Wing-backs: Denzel Dumfries, Federico Dimarco
• Midfielders: Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan
• Forwards: Marcus Thuram, Lautaro Martinez (captain)
• Formation: 3-5-2
• Coach: Simone Inzaghi

The two formations told opposite tactical stories: PSG’s flat 4-3-3 looked to dominate midfield with numerical superiority, while Inter’s 3-5-2 relied on Dumfries and Dimarco to create width against what Inzaghi expected to be a narrower opponent.

Who is favored, PSG or Inter Milan?

PSG entered the final as the pre-match favorite, with odds across sportsbooks tipping Luis Enrique’s side. The bookmaker consensus reflected PSG’s deeper squad depth and the form of Kvaratskhelia and Doue, both of whom had delivered decisive performances in the semi-final rounds.

Pre-match odds

Sportsbooks installed PSG as slight favorites, with odds tightening further upon confirmation of Inter’s injury list. The return of Benjamin Pavard was the single piece of team news that most affected the market — his presence stabilizing what had been a rotating cast in Inter’s central defense.

Post-match analysis

Inter’s second Champions League final in three years ended in the same manner as the first: a heavy loss. Inzaghi’s side lost to Manchester City in 2023, and the result against PSG raises questions about whether the Nerazzurri can bridge the gap to Europe’s elite without squad investment, per Football Italia.

The implication: PSG’s project under Luis Enrique has reached its ceiling-breaking moment, while Inter must reconcile themselves with a second consecutive final defeat — this time by an even wider margin.

What time is PSG vs Inter Milan?

The match kicked off at 21:00 CET on 31 May 2025 at the Allianz Arena in Munich. For viewers in the UK, that translated to 20:00 BST. In the United States, CBS Sports and Paramount+ carried the broadcast at 3 p.m. ET, as noted by CBS Sports broadcast schedule.

Kickoff details

The Allianz Arena hosted the showpiece event for the second time in three years following Manchester City’s 2023 final appearance at the venue. A crowd of 64,327 filled the stadium, per Sky Sports.

Broadcast info

The match was available across multiple platforms. In Europe, beIN Sports and Sky Sports carried the coverage. In the US, Paramount+ and CBS Sports delivered the broadcast in English, with Spanish-language options on TUDN.

For viewers in each region, the 21:00 CET start time required adjusting expectations — a late kickoff by domestic standards, but standard for Champions League finals designed for maximum cross-continental audience reach.

PSG vs Inter Milan key player updates

Two injury storylines dominated pre-match build-up: Benjamin Pavard’s return for Inter and Lautaro Martinez’s recovery for Inter. Both were confirmed fit and started, per SempreInter and Football Italia.

Mbappé’s role

The question of whether Kylian Mbappé might regret leaving PSG became a recurring narrative in the French press throughout the 2024-25 season. The forward departed for Real Madrid in the summer of 2024 and was not available for this final. His absence was absorbed seamlessly — PSG’s 5-0 victory made the point moot on the field, though the question will continue to surface whenever PSG succeed without him.

Inter’s number 9

Marcus Thuram led Inter’s line as the nominal number nine, with Lautaro Martinez alongside him in the 3-5-2 setup. Both entered the final in good health — Martinez recovering from a muscular issue that had cast doubt over his participation after the semi-final against Barcelona, per Football Italia.

What this means: the Mbappé question will resurface every time PSG wins a major trophy without him. For Inter, the fitness of Martinez and Pavard mattered enormously — both started, both contributed, yet the collective system still collapsed around them.

PSG vs Inter Milan: Lineup comparison

The two XIs reflected fundamentally different footballing philosophies — a high-block 4-3-3 against a low-midblock 3-5-2 that invited pressure in exchange for transition opportunities.

The tactical contrast was stark: PSG’s 4-3-3 deployed three true forwards, while Inter’s 3-5-2 sacrificed a dedicated striker spot for an extra body in midfield — a choice that backfired when PSG’s front three consistently won their individual duels.

Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi has decided to start Benjamin Pavard in defense against PSG.

This evening’s match will define Inter’s season. Therefore, it is little surprise to see Nerazzurri coach Simone Inzaghi go with his strongest available starting eleven.

Simone Inzaghi has a full squad to choose from, as Pavard has shaken off an ankle problem.

PSG’s commanding 5-0 UCL final win featured starting lineups that matched Leedswire’s official XIs, underscoring key player roles and formations.

Frequently asked questions

PSG vs Inter Milan lineups: the verdict

PSG’s 5-0 victory was not a fluke — it was the product of a carefully constructed squad built to exploit exactly the kind of system Inter Milan brought to the final. Luis Enrique’s 4-3-3 created overloads in wide areas that Inzaghi’s wing-back system could not counter without exposing central defensive zones. Desire Doue’s performance encapsulated the mismatch: two goals, one assist, and constant movement that forced Inter’s defenders into uncomfortable one-on-one situations throughout.

What this means: Inter’s second consecutive final defeat raises structural questions that go beyond tactics. For PSG, the victory validates a project that critics once dismissed as trophy-rich but mentally fragile. The lineups told the story — and the scoreline confirmed it.

For more UCL final coverage, see our Deportivo Alavés vs Real Madrid Lineups analysis and Mexico vs Turkey Lineups breakdown.