In the rich history of European Cup finals, few performances have ever been as emphatic or as complete as Paris Saint-Germain’s dismantling of Inter Milan in Munich on Saturday night. The 5-0 scoreline not only secured PSG’s first ever UEFA Champions League title but also set a new record for the competition’s biggest margin of victory in a final. It was as comprehensive as it was historic.
Matches of this magnitude are rarely decided so decisively. In recent memory, Barcelona’s celebrated wins over Manchester United in 2011 and Juventus in 2015 each finished 3-1. Jose Mourinho’s Porto beat Monaco 3-0 in 2004, but even then spent large portions of the first half under pressure. Real Madrid have occasionally padded their scorelines late on, but for a truly dominant performance, one must go all the way back to Milan’s 4-0 rout of Barcelona in 1994. Until now.
PSG’s 5-0 masterclass in Munich displayed the full breadth of their abilities. The opening goal came via an intricate passing sequence, a demonstration of the team’s technical prowess. Once in front, they exploited Inter’s vulnerabilities on the counter, repeatedly surging past a midfield and defense that simply could not keep up.
The sheer speed at which the narrative shifted was remarkable. Inter had approached the final full of belief, but left the Allianz Arena looking like a side whose time at the top had already passed. Their tactical setup appeared outdated. Several of their leading players suddenly looked as though their best days were behind them. The reality may not be as severe, but such a heavy defeat leaves lasting scars. The emotional toll was immediately evident, as Inter fans wept openly at full time, evoking memories of Brazil’s infamous 7-1 defeat to Germany in 2014.
For PSG, the ramifications of this night are profound. Several key figures now occupy a different place in football’s hierarchy. Luis Enrique has joined an exclusive club, having now guided two different teams to the European title, a decade apart. His achievements with Barcelona in 2015 and PSG in 2025 will be referenced for years to come. In between, he narrowly missed out on European Championship glory. “His Spain side outplayed Italy in that semi-final, losing only on penalties.”
Among the players, Gigi Donnarumma’s stature continues to grow. The Italian goalkeeper has now claimed both the European Championship and the European Cup, delivering crucial penalty saves in both tournaments and producing standout performances, particularly in the semi-final victory over Arsenal. “Gigi Donnarumma has won both the European Championship and the European Cup, and given his penalty saves in both competitions, and his displays against Arsenal in the semi-final, can claim to have been his side’s best performer in both.”
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s meteoric rise continues as well. After helping Napoli end their long wait for a Serie A title in 2023, he has now played a pivotal role in bringing PSG their long-coveted European crown. In the span of one year, he has lifted trophies in Serie A, Ligue 1 and now the Champions League. Fabian Ruiz, who was Spain’s standout performer during last year’s European Championship, has now reached European champion status at both club and international level. “Maybe only Lamine Yamal has enjoyed a better 12 months for club and country.”
Ousmane Dembele’s transformation has been perhaps the most unexpected storyline. His reinvention as a centre-forward, combined with consistently world-class form, has caught even the most seasoned observers off guard. As Luis Enrique commented post-match, “he should win the Ballon d’Or, not merely for his goals, but also for his pressing.”
The depth of PSG’s emerging core offers further reasons for optimism. Vitinha and Joao Neves have established themselves as top-level performers capable of shaping PSG’s future. Youngsters Desire Doue and Senny Mayulu remain works in progress, but their contributions in this campaign have already secured them a permanent place in club folklore. “Even if they do nothing else, they will forever be heroes in Paris.”
Yet while individual brilliance played its part, PSG’s true strength lies in their collective cohesion. Throughout this Champions League run, their midfield rotation has been a tactical marvel. The third goal perfectly captured that harmony, as Vitinha initiated a deep passing move, drove forward, and set up Doue. “The way Vitinha prompted a passing move from deep, then ran through the Inter defence to tee up Doue for the third goal, showed the understanding in the middle of the pitch.”
Fabian Ruiz’s tactical discipline allowed Achraf Hakimi the freedom to charge forward. While Hakimi’s aggressive positioning has at times left PSG exposed, his risk-taking paid off as he opened the scoring. “The right-back’s attacking bursts are risky, and have nearly cost PSG on a couple of occasions this season in the Champions League, but he justified his positioning by scoring the opener.”
The front line operated with constant positional interchange, yet maintained fluidity and balance. Doue and Kvaratskhelia frequently moved centrally, while Dembele drifted wide or dropped deeper when needed. Tactically, PSG seem to have embraced a slightly different take on possession football. Rather than rigid positional play, they rely on compact combinations and short, dynamic exchanges. Others are experimenting with similar ideas, but PSG are executing it better than anyone. “They aren’t the only ones doing that, but they’re clearly the best at it.”
Still, talk of sustained dominance would be premature. History shows that knockout football rarely allows for consistent reigns, no matter how talented the side. PSG’s run included nervy moments. They needed penalties to eliminate Liverpool and relied heavily on Donnarumma to get past Arsenal. Even their group stage form left much to be desired.
Yet none of that matters now. As history has shown, what happens on the night of the final endures far longer than the path it took to get there. Milan’s 1993-94 side won just twice in the group stage before their 4-0 dismantling of Barcelona became the stuff of legend. “The performance in the final is what we remember, and this one will be remembered forever.”
