In the first year of an expanded format, the 2025 UEFA Champions League Final will see Paris Saint-Germain facing off against Inter Milan. Inter narrowly escaped a defeat to Barcelona in the semifinal, with a 7-6 win across the two aggregate games. In a somewhat less dramatic fashion, PSG beat Arsenal 3-1 in their two semifinal matches to advance. Inter has reached the final six times, last losing in 2023 but winning in 1964, 1965, and 2010. On the other hand, Paris has made the final just once, losing the match in 2020. The 2025 UCL Final between the two teams will take place at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, on May 31, 2025.
In what is being considered one of the greatest games in the recent history of the Champions League, Inter beat Barca in extra time of the second leg of their semifinal matchup. The aggregate was tied 3-3 heading into the match, after an exciting first leg that saw multiple lead changes and controversial calls.
The second leg on Tuesday was no different, with Inter taking a two-goal lead in the first half. Barca came back out hot in the second, scoring two goals of their own by the 60th minute. Despite never holding the lead for a majority of the match, Barcelona looked to be on the front foot all night. They consistently dominated possession and shots on goal, but failed to convert on Inter goalkeeper Yan Sommer.
Then, in the 87th minute, Barca’s Raphinha scored to finally give them the lead. It looked like the Spanish side would advance after the late conversion, but Inter had other plans. In the 93rd minute, Inter’s Francesco Acerbi scored his first goal after 20 years of European play, to re-tie the match and give the Italian side a chance. In extra time, Barcelona continued to have the possession and shots on their side, yet still couldn’t find the back of the net. Then, in the 99th minute, Inter’s Davide Frattesi sent a shot to the bottom corner against Barcelona’s Wojciech Szcesny to take the lead.
Inter held on throughout the rest of the extra time to advance, sealing a two-game semifinal matchup that had a rollercoaster of emotions for fans of both sides. Though falling just short, Barcelona had a massive advantage in possession, having control of the ball for more than 70% of the time in both games. They also dominated in shots, with a total of 41 compared to Inter’s 20. Even with the lopsided stats, Inter Milan snuck out with a win against a Barca team that was atop the Champions League table and rankings all year, advancing to their second final in three years.
Though the other side of the bracket didn’t create as much drama and goal-scoring opportunities, Paris Saint-Germain proved to have just had an edge against Arsenal. The French side beat the English side 1-0 in the first leg of their two-game aggregate matchup after a fourth-minute goal from Ousmane Dembele. The match was extremely even on the statsheet, but Arsenal just failed to score an equalizer at their home arena in North London.
The second leg of the semifinal was played in Paris, but the home side got off to a rough start. PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made multiple key saves through the first 20 minutes of the match, including a massive block against a Bukayo Saka shot. PSG then went on to take advantage of the momentum created by their keeper, as Fabian Ruiz scored in the 27th minute to give them a 2-0 aggregate lead.
In the second half the match stayed close, but Paris held on to their momentum and created more chances. Arsenal keeper David Raya managed to save a penalty kick by Vitinha in the 69th minute, but moments later, they still converted thanks to an Achraf Hakimi goal in the 72nd minute. Saka did find the back of the net shortly after in the 76th minute to give Arsenal a chance, but they failed to convert on multiple late-game opportunities. With the 3-1 aggregate score, PSG advanced to the Champions League final for the second time ever.
For both of the losing sides, Barcelona and Arsenal, they each had strong showings in the 2025 Champions League up to the semifinals. It could be seen as a disappointment for both, but also an accomplishment as the two sides advanced farther in the tournament than in recent years. Barca’s semifinal appearance was their first since 2019, and Arsenal’s first since 2009. The Spanish side last won the tournament in 2015, while the English side has famously never won the title.
Through the group stage of the 2025 UEFA Champions League, Inter Milan sat near the top of the table in fourth. They won in all but two of their six matches, losing to Bayer Leverkusen and tying with Manchester United. Even more surprising, they gave up just one goal in those six matches while scoring 11 of their own. In their playoff rounds, they beat Feyenoord Rotterdam with a 4-1 aggregate, Bayern Munich with a 4-3 aggregate, and finally Barcelona with the incredible 7-6 aggregate score.
While they were never a heavy favorite to win either of their last two rounds, Inter’s early goals and stunning resilience have been major factors in their success during the tournament. They are also in a tight battle with Napoli for the Italian league Serie A title, and regardless of their finish in the Final, will return to the Champions League next season.
Paris Saint-Germain has had a completely different path to the Final, as they skated by in the group stage to finish in the middle of the pack. They won four of their eight games, losing to Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, and Bayern Munich. In the knockout round, they crushed the French side Brest with a 10-0 aggregate score. They then went on to beat Liverpool in penalty kicks in what was one of the more shocking upsets of the tournament. Following that, they beat Aston Villa 5-4 in aggregate, and most recently Arsenal 3-1 in the semifinals.
Unlike their next opponent in Inter, PSG underperformed early in the Champions League but advanced with the help of multiple huge wins on the road against some of Europe’s toughest competition. They are also in line to win the French Ligue A, and regardless of their finish in the Final, will return to the tournament next season.
The biggest stage of European football is now set, with two teams that had two very different paths to the Champions League Final. Both have been dominant in their domestic leagues in recent years, but have yet to convert that success into titles in European tournaments.
For Inter, they last played in the final in 2023, losing to Manchester City 1-0 in heartbreaking fashion. They last won the competition in 2010 against Bayern Munich, but besides that, only advanced to the semifinals one other time since 2000. For PSG, they last made the final in 2020, losing 1-0 to Bayern Munich. While making it to the semifinals three times this decade, their last time before that finishing as a final-four team came back in 1995.
Both of these squads have a lot to prove in terms of finally becoming victorious in Europe’s top competition. The 2025 Champions League Final is sure to bring more excitement and intrigue after the tournament expanded for the first time in decades, and will see one of these teams with a victory that will cement their legacy as Champions of Europe.
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