PSG to face Inter Milan seeking their first-ever UEFA Champions League title

Billions of euros have been spent. Some of the world's greatest players have come and gone. Yet the UEFA Champions League trophy has remained agonizingly out of reach for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

That could be about to change.

The Qatari-owned team is one game away from European club football's most prestigious prize, with only 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 are the favorites, with a thrilling young roster that has produced stunning performances to get past Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal. It feels, to some, like their time has finally come.

Coach Simone Inzaghi's Inter are competing in their second final in three seasons, however, and cut down a rampant Barcelona in an epic two-legged semifinal showdown to prevail 7-6 on aggregate.

"Our opponent, we hold the utmost respect for," Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez said. "But with the weapons we've got, we want to hit them where it hurts."

The signs are there for PSG. Their 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 inked some of the biggest names in football – including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, and Lionel Messi – without ever getting their hands on the trophy they crave most of all.

The superstars are all gone now, and without those iconic figures, PSG look like a more complete squad.

"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 quite 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 have 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.

PSG's only previous appearance in the final was in 2020, a 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich. They bowed out in the last four in 2021 and 2024.

Eliminations in the round of 16 in 2022 and 2023 preceded the decision by club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi to change his transfer strategy.

This year is only the second time since 2011 that three-time title-winners Inter Milan have advanced beyond the last 16.

The Italian club last won the Champions League in 2010 under former coach Jose Mourinho.