In search of European glory

European glory is around the corner but only one of two clubs can reach it. The Paris Saint-Germain French and the Italians of Inter Milan face the decisive game of the Champions League this Saturday, which marks the end, and the culminating point of the football time of clubs.

The successor of the Spanish of Real Madrid – a recorder of European titles, with 15 – will be known at Allianz Arena in Munich, from 20h00 (Lisbon time).

The outcome can be historical, since Paris Saint-Germain has never won the race, and can snatch an unprecedented scepter and achieve the primordial goal of the current direction, while Inter Milan has three triumphs in 1963/64, 1964/65 and 2009/10.

Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan can also avenge lost finals for Bayern Munich (2019/20) and Manchester City (2022/23), respectively, 1-0.

If it is the Gaul Set to win, four Portuguese international footballers raise the trophy also for the first time, cases of the young people Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Vitinha and Gonçalo Ramos, all relevant on the squad, in their own way.

The first three were, throughout the season, the owners and gentlemen of their positions in the initial eleven, with the striker to be preponderant in many games, leaving the bench to score (18 goals in a total of 40 games).

Nuno Mendes is already seen as one of the best left sides of today and Vitinha also enters the ‘tops’ of centrocampists, with João Neves proving in his first season in Paris that is no longer just a promise, but a certainty. And there is yet another Portuguese with a preponderant influence on the Parisian team – but this one does not step the pitch. It is Luís Campos, club advisor since 2022, considered one of the architects of the revolution in the squad. Has just renewed the contract until 2030.

After the stars

The set led by Spanish coach Luis Enrique lives mainly from his collective, after several years with several stars on the squad, such as Messi, Mbappé or Neymar. This time, without large world stars, the team works better.

With the giant Gigi Donnarumma closing the goal to Sete Keys, Achraf Hakimi, the experienced Marquinhos and the revelation Willian Pacho cement a solid defense, with Fabián Ruiz composing the midfield with the two Portuguese midfielders.

In the Parisian attack are the young promises Bradley Boatla and Désiré Doué, who join the reinforcement of January Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembélé, to make the best season of his career after several eras away from the potential.

Ousmane Dembélé is really named as one of the Golden Ball candidates and the Champions League winning can support this candidacy, after the 33 goals and 12 assists in 48 duels that have been counting so far.

The strong point

On the other hand, the Milaneses are also far from having stars on the squad at Simone Inzaghi’s orders, where the largest figure is Lautaro Martínez, who, alongside Marcus Thuram, forms a fearsome attack, although the defense is the strongest point.

Yann Sommer is one of the best goalkeeper of today and benefits from a three-year defense, composed mostly by Stefan de Vrij, Alessandro Bastoni and Yann Biseck in the center, with Denzel Dumfries and Federico Dimarco to do the wings and hakanglu, Nicolò Barella and Henrikh Mkhitaryan to ensure equilibrium.

Way to Munich

Until they reached the final, the two teams surpassed several complicated obstacles, with Paris Saint-Germain Claudicar at the beginning, still in the league phase, which forced the play-off of access to the round of 16 after 15th places in 36 teams.

However, the French exceeded the BREST compatriots distinction, by significant 10-0 in the aggregate, marking a meeting with Liverpool in the eighth end, which had closed the league phase in leadership and was one of the great favorites.

It was in the great penalties that Paris Saint-Germain surpassed the Redsafter 1-1, and until the final, he found two more English sets again. First was Aston Villa, triumphing 5-4, and then, in the socks, the Arsenal, in a total victory by 3-1.

Inter Milan, on the other hand, learned directly to the round of 16, after fourth place in the League phase, and began by defeating the 4-1 Fedenoord Dutch in the aggregate. The Germans of Bayern Munich were followed in the rooms, winning 4-3.

The dream of the Germans in playing the Champions League final on their own stronghold was undone, but there was still an obstacle ahead, the Spaniards of FC Barcelona, ​​providing one of the best semi-finals in the history of the tournament.

After a first draw to three balls, Inter Milan received the second duel and won 2-0 at the break, but allowed the turnaround of Catalans, with a goal at 88 to score 3-2. However, Francesco Acerbi returned to match 90+3, and took the game for extension, where Davide Frattesi became a hero on 99 minutes.

If, at the national level, the time ran as a Gaulesa class, which won all the competitions he has played so far, the same cannot be said about the transalpines, who saw the title flee to Naples, in the last round of the race.

In addition, Inter Milan also lost the final of the Super Cup and was eliminated in the Italian Cup midfield, with the Champions League a great occasion to close the season in beauty, although he still has the Club World Cup to play.