They actually did it. After years of being the punchline of every "money can't buy history" joke, Paris Saint-Germain are the champions of Europe. If you've been living under a rock or just missed the chaotic 2024-25 season, the short answer is: Paris Saint-Germain won the last Champions League by absolutely demolishing Inter Milan in the final.
It wasn’t even close. 5-0.
Munich’s Allianz Arena was the backdrop on May 31, 2025, and honestly, the atmosphere felt weirdly tense before kickoff. You had Inter, who are basically the masters of the "suffer and win" style under Simone Inzaghi, going up against a PSG side that finally looked like a real team rather than a collection of trading cards.
What Really Happened in the 2025 Final?
Most people expected a cagey Italian masterclass. Instead, we got a massacre. Luis Enrique—the guy who already had a treble with Barca—proved he’s still got that tactical magic. He set PSG up to suffocate Inter's midfield, and it worked almost immediately.
Achraf Hakimi, playing against his old club, opened the floodgates in the 12th minute. He didn't celebrate much, but you could see the relief on his face. Then came the Désiré Doué show. If you haven't been following this kid, start now. The 19-year-old scored twice, looked completely unplayable, and walked away with the Man of the Match trophy.
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By the time Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and young Senny Mayulu added the fourth and fifth goals, the Inter fans were already heading for the exits. It was the largest margin of victory in a Champions League final ever. Total dominance.
Why PSG Won (And Why Everyone Else Failed)
It’s easy to say they just spent more money, but that's kinda lazy analysis. This season was different. For the first time, PSG didn't rely on one or two "megastars" to bail them out. They had a structure.
- The Luis Enrique Factor: He implemented a "positional play" system that made them less predictable.
- Defensive Stability: Marquinhos and Willian Pacho were a wall. They didn't do the usual PSG "collapse" when things got slightly difficult.
- The New Format: 2024-25 was the first year of the "Swiss Model." No more traditional groups. PSG actually struggled early on in this new league phase, finishing 15th, but they peaked at exactly the right time.
Real Madrid, the defending 2024 champs, were everyone's favorite to repeat. But they got knocked out in the quarter-finals by Arsenal. Then PSG beat Arsenal in the semis. It was a weird, non-linear path to the trophy that most experts didn't see coming.
The "Swiss Model" Chaos: Did it Change the Outcome?
Let’s talk about the format because it’s basically the reason this season felt so different. Instead of four-team groups, we had one giant league table. Every goal mattered.
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PSG's journey was a rollercoaster. They lost to Arsenal and Atletico Madrid early on. They were a mess in November. People were calling for Luis Enrique to be sacked. But the new format allows for those "slow starts" because you play eight different teams. They scraped into the playoffs, destroyed Brest 10-0 on aggregate (yikes), and then survived a terrifying penalty shootout against Liverpool at Anfield.
That Liverpool game was the turning point. Gianluigi Donnarumma saved two penalties, and you could just feel the "curse" lifting. From that moment on, they played like they knew the trophy was theirs.
Key Stats from the 2024-25 Season
| Category | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Winner | Paris Saint-Germain (1st Title) |
| Runner-up | Inter Milan |
| Final Score | 5-0 |
| Top Scorers | Serhou Guirassy & Raphinha (13 goals each) |
| Best Player | Ousmane Dembélé |
| Venue | Allianz Arena, Munich |
Honestly, seeing Guirassy (Dortmund) and Raphinha (Barca) top the scoring charts instead of Haaland or Mbappe was a refreshing change. It felt like the "old guard" of European dominance was finally cracking.
Common Misconceptions About the Last UCL
I see a lot of people saying Inter "bottled it." That’s not really fair. Inzaghi’s Inter had a miracle run. They beat Barcelona in a 7-6 aggregate thriller in the semi-finals—arguably the best game of the decade. By the time they reached Munich, they were gassed. They had no legs left to chase PSG’s wingers.
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Another thing: people think this was a "boring" final because of the scoreline. If you love tactical breakdowns, it was actually fascinating. Watching Vitinha control the tempo while Inter’s world-class midfield of Barella and Calhanoglu chased shadows was a masterclass in modern possession football.
What This Means for Next Season
So, PSG finally has their star. They are no longer the "biggest club to never win it." That title probably shifts back to... well, maybe Arsenal? Though they looked incredible this year until the semi-final collapse.
If you’re looking to track who’s going to win the next one, keep an eye on the coefficient rankings. England and Italy dominated the extra spots this year, but France is catching up thanks to PSG’s win.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts:
- Watch the Youth: The 2025 final proved that the "super-team" era is transitioning into a "system-team" era. Players like Désiré Doué and Senny Mayulu are the new blueprints.
- Format Matters: Don't panic if your team loses two games in the league phase. The "Swiss Model" is designed for comebacks.
- Defense Wins Finals: PSG’s clean sheet in the final wasn’t a fluke; it was the result of a revamped backline that prioritized chemistry over fame.
The 2024-25 Champions League will be remembered as the year the project finally paid off. It wasn't pretty at the start, but by the end, PSG was undeniably the best team in the world.