Inter Milan and PSG will play for the Champions League title on Saturday. A look at the history reveals big differences – and a curious fact.
Inter Milan against Paris Saint Germain: The Champions League final on Saturday is European football at a top level. But a look at the history of both clubs shows that this duel would have been unthinkable for a long time.
Inter Milan, one of the largest Italian clubs, can look back on a great past in the European Cup. PSG only came to take place in the recent past on a European floor – which is also related to a lot of money from Qatar.
Inter Milan looks back on great success in European competition
Since 1955 there has been duels between clubs in Europe with the introduction of the European Cup-the Champions League predecessor. In the mid -1960s, Inter Milan was one of the largest numbers in competition: in 1964 and 1965 the “Nerazzurri” The competition was twice in a row in 1966 in the semi -finals, again in the final in 1967 – but lost Celtic Glasgow 1-2 there.
Five years later, the Milanese made it to the final again, but lost again, this time against Ajax Amsterdam. Except for a semi -finals in 1981 against Real Madrid, it was the last big appearance in the highest European football competition. This was followed by a long dry spell, in which the Milanese no longer placed it beyond the quarter -finals.
Inter Milan has to wait 45 years for the next title in the Champions League
Until 2003 when it was the ultimate city derby, the “Derby della Madonnina”came between Inter and AC Milan. Two emotional games kept the city in suspense for six days. There was no winner (0: 0, 1: 1) – the away goal rule that was still applicable at the time ensured the final entry of AC Milan, which later grabbed the title against Juventus Turin.
Inter Milan had to wait seven years for this: In the 2010 final, the Milanese prevailed against FC Bayern 2-0 in Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid and became Champions League winners. Overall, it was the first title in 45 years after the victory in the European Cup of the national champions in 1965.
According to sporty years in which Inter Milan did not play for titles in Serie A or internationally, the association worked up again in the early 2020s. The new Milan Stark culminated in the Champions League final 2023, which was again lost 0-1 against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in an intense and tactically shaped game.
Only the big money brings Paris Saint Germain to the Champions League
The path of Paris Saint Germain to the top of the European club football was quite different. There is a very simple reason for this: In contrast to Inter Milan, PSG did not play a significant role in top European football for a long time. The exception was to reach the semi -finals in the Champions League in the 1994/95 season.
This changed when a Qatarian investor community, led by Nasser al-Khelaifi, landed in Paris with a plump money. The entry of donors in 2011 was associated with the clear wish to win the Champions League. However, this was difficult: PSG never made it beyond the eighth or quarter-finals.
In 2020 they came very close to their dream in Paris. With victories against Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, PSG moved into the final – and met the third German team with FC Bayern. Paris failed with the offensive trio from Neymar, Kylian Mbappé and Angel di Maria narrowly 0-1. Of all things, Kingsley Coman, trained at PSG, scored the golden goal.
Hunger for the title at PSG and Inter Milan for bitter bankruptcies
A season later, in the semi -finals against Manchester City, PSG also failed in Borussia Dortmund in the semi -finals last year. With a new philosophy under coach Louis Henrique – away from individualists, to a functioning collective – PSG wants to finally win the first title in the Champions this year.
What is curious, however: Inter Milan and PSG have never met in the European Cup. One thing in other teams: The title hunger has recently been high after bitter final defeats.