Inter Milan is set to compete against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League final on May 31, 2025. This marks PSG`s second appearance in the final (having lost in 2020), while Inter boasts a richer history in the competition, with three previous victories (including 2010) and a recent defeat in the 2023 final. Under Simone Inzaghi, the Nerazzurri have performed strongly in Europe this season, securing a top-eight position in the newly introduced league phase format for 2024-25. Following their Istanbul appearance two years prior, Inter now has another opportunity to claim the coveted trophy. Here’s how they reached the final:
Key Details for the Final
- Date: Saturday, May 31
- Location: Allianz Arena — Munich, Germany
The League Phase
The campaign began solidly in the league phase, which replaced the old group stage with a single table of 36 teams, each playing eight matches. Inter opened with a goalless draw at Manchester City, a repeat of the 2023 final. Two weeks later, they decisively defeated Crvena Zvezda 4-0 at San Siro, with goals from Hakan Calhanoglu, Marko Arnautovic, Lautaro Martinez, and Mehdi Taremi. October saw a 1-0 away win thanks to Marcus Thuram, followed by another 1-0 victory at home against Arsenal, secured by Hakan Calhanoglu`s penalty. Inter continued their strong home form with a 1-0 win over RB Leipzig before experiencing their sole league phase defeat, 1-0 to Bayer Leverkusen. They concluded this phase with two wins: a 1-0 away success against Sparta Prague (Lautaro Martinez scoring) and a dominant 3-0 home win featuring a Lautaro hat-trick. Finishing fourth overall, Inter bypassed the play-offs and advanced directly to the Round of 16. They boasted the best defense, conceding only once, while scoring 11 times and winning six of their eight matches.
The Knockout Stages
Moving into the knockout rounds, Inter efficiently dispatched Feyenoord, winning the first leg 2-0 away (Lautaro and Thuram) and the second leg 2-1 at home (Thuram and Calhanoglu`s penalty). The quarterfinals presented Bayern Munich. Inter secured a crucial 2-1 first-leg win at the Allianz Arena – the venue for this season`s final. Lautaro`s opener was canceled out by Thomas Muller, but Italian midfielder Davide Frattesi netted a sensational late winner. The return leg in Milan was a thrilling contest. Harry Kane gave Bayern the lead, but Inter staged a quick comeback with two goals in three minutes from Lautaro and Benjamin Pavard, ultimately advancing despite Bayern`s second equalizer.
However, the most significant and arguably the most exciting tie of their run was the semifinal clash against Barcelona.
The semifinal against Barcelona proved to be both the highlight of Inter`s journey and potentially the season`s most captivating encounter. The initial leg at Estadio Lluis Companys finished in a dramatic 3-3 draw. Inter took an early 2-0 lead through Thuram and Denzel Dumfries, but Barcelona equalized before halftime via Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez. Dumfries restored Inter`s advantage, only for a Yann Sommer own goal to leave the tie level ahead of the return leg. The second leg in Milan was an unforgettable match. Inter again built a 2-0 halftime lead courtesy of Lautaro and Calhanoglu. Barcelona fought back in the second half, leveling at 2-2 by the 60th minute with goals from Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo. Raphinha then seemed to have won it for Barcelona with an 87th-minute strike, but Francesco Acerbi`s dramatic stoppage-time equalizer forced extra time. In the 99th minute, substitute Frattesi struck powerfully, securing a sensational 4-3 aggregate victory and sending Inter to the final.
