Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan face off in the Champions League final

Inter Milan’s coach Simone Inzaghi, center, oversees the training of his players on the eve of the UEFA Champions League finals match between Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain in Munich, southern Germany on May 30, 2025. (AFP)
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Updated 31 May 2025
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Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan face off in the Champions League final

  • European club football’s biggest prize is at stake between two teams that have felt the pain of falling at the last hurdle in recent years
  • Inter was a losing finalist against Manchester City in 2023 and PSG lost in its only final against Bayern Munich in 2020

MUNICH: Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan go head-to-head in the Champions League final in Munich on Saturday.

European club football’s biggest prize is at stake between two teams that have felt the pain of falling at the last hurdle in recent years.

Inter was a losing finalist against Manchester City in 2023 and PSG lost in its only final against Bayern Munich in 2020.

After spending billions of dollars and signing some of the sport’s greatest players like Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi, PSG is still waiting to win its first Champions League title. Those superstars have now departed, but coach Luis Enrique has assembled one of the most exciting squads in Europe, with the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia filling the void left by that trio.

Enrique is aiming to win the competition for the second time as a coach, having lifted it with Barcelona in 2015, and would become the seventh coach to win the trophy with different teams.

“The motivation for me is to win the Champions League title for the first time for PSG,” he said. “That is the gift I want to give the people, the club, the city.”

Inter was looking for a treble just over a month ago, but is now left with the Champions League as its only possible trophy. It lost the Italian title by a point and was knocked out of the Italian Cup in the semifinals.

“These players in these four years did a lot — won a lot and lost sometimes. It happens. But we all gave our all, everyone. We are proud to be Inter,” coach Simone Inzaghi said. “I dreamed of playing the Champions League final. I didn’t do it as a player, but thanks to this group of players I’ve been in two finals as a head coach.”

Inter has won the Champions League or European Cup on three occasions, most recently in 2010.

When does the Champions League final begin?

The match at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. local time.


Pakistan legend Akram hails ‘incredible’ Starc after Ashes heroics

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Pakistan legend Akram hails ‘incredible’ Starc after Ashes heroics

  • Australia’s Mitchell Starc surpassed Akram’s tally of 414 test wickets during Brisbane match against England
  • Akram says despite being 35, Starc can “go on and on” due to his passion for cricket and fiery pace bowling

KARACHI: Legendary Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram believes even more is to come from Australia’s “incredible” veteran Ashes wrecking ball Mitchell Starc.

Akram was reacting to Starc surpassing his tally of 414 wickets during the Brisbane Test against England on Thursday, becoming the leading left-arm pace bowler of all time.

“Congratulations to Starc on passing my tally of wickets,” Akram told AFP, saying that the 35-year-old’s passion and commitment helped set him apart.

“Starc has shown a great amount of dedication and focus in these times of too much cricket, having T20 leagues with big money coming your way.

“He did play T20 leagues but then decided to play more Tests and left the shorter format because he wanted to be remembered as one of the best in the world in the history of the game.

“Ten years down the line, if anyone decides to have an all-time Test team, then Starc will be named in that team for sure.”

Despite trumping Akram, Starc described the Pakistan great as the “pinnacle.”

“Wasim’s still a far better bowler than I am,” Starc said on Thursday.

Akram dismissed the debate over who is the greatest.

“It is difficult to compare both of us because we are from different eras,” he said. “People say that I played on placid tracks and he played on bouncy Aussie tracks, so that was different.

“But nowadays batters have a different mindset and they play aggressive shots even on good balls, so that makes wicket-taking a more difficult art.”

Akram said he believed Starc’s passion could take him further.

“He is 35 and his pace is still there and passion remains at its peak. He has been incredible as a fast bowler and is enjoying fast bowling, so can go on and on.”