The 2024/2025 UEFA Champions League Final is a clash of contrasting philosophies.
On one side, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), under Luis Enrique, have developed into an exciting, fluid attacking team, blending youthful dynamism with devastation.
On the other hand, Simone Inzaghi’s Inter Milan epitomises defensive resilience, constantly changing shapes, and ruthlessness in transition.
Both teams have earned their place in this UCL final, overcoming unique challenges on their respective paths.
While PSG had to recover from a faltering group-stage campaign, Inter’s consistent defensive solidity saw them qualify comfortably for the knock-out rounds.
This Champions League Final tactical preview examines the contests tactical intricacies, focusing on where the game can be won or lost.
Our UCL preview also highlights the technical details that underpin both teams’ approaches.
Inter Milan: A Tactical Masterclass In Pragmatism
Inter Milan’s success this season has been founded on their ability to control games without dominating possession.
Simone Inzaghi has implemented a 3-5-2 system that prioritises compactness, low build-up play, constant rotations and frightening in transition.
Their structure is designed to minimise vulnerabilities while maximising opportunities in key moments.
Inter’s defence is their greatest strength.
Throughout their Champions League campaign, they have spent only 16 minutes in a losing game state, which demonstrates their ability to contain opponents and maintain control.
The back three of Alessandro Bastoni, Francesco Acerbi, and Yann Bisseck functions as a cohesive unit, with each player excelling in specific defensive roles.
Bastoni, in particular, plays a big role due to his contributions to Inter’s build-up play.
His 5.5 progressive passes and 2.05 progressive carries per 90 minutes place him among Europe’s elite ball-playing defenders.
His ability to bypass pressure and distribute into advanced zones opens up opportunities for their wing-backs to attack space, as shown in the semi-final versus Barcelona.
Inter’s wing-backs, Denzel Dumfries and Federico Dimarco, play a dual role in ensuring defensive width and providing an attacking outlet.
Dumfries, with his athleticism and timing of forward runs, is dangerous.
He receives 7.65 progressive passes per 90 minutes, positioning himself to impact the final third.
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