Saturday`s Champions League final is set to feature a wealth of individual talent. Paris Saint-Germain has emerged as a somewhat surprising favorite, largely due to the effectiveness of their squad, which includes both less-known talents and established stars, performing more cohesively than many previous PSG iterations.
Meanwhile, Inter Milan has consistently demonstrated their quality over the past three seasons, reaching the Champions League final twice. In 2022, they narrowly missed out, losing to Manchester City by a single goal. This time, they aim to go one better. They possess ample talent across the pitch, capable of deciding tight encounters, as seen in their victories against formidable opponents like Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
How to watch the Champions League final, odds
- Date: Saturday, May 31 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Allianz Arena — Munich, Germany
- TV: CBS | Live stream: Paramount+
- Odds: Paris Saint-Germain +105; Draw +240; Inter +270
Here are five players who could prove decisive at the Allianz Arena:
1. Ousmane Dembele, PSG
Considered one of the top three or four players globally this season, Ousmane Dembele has been the standout performer embodying PSG`s remarkable campaign. While always a skilled player, even alongside stars like Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi at Barcelona, injuries and perhaps a supporting role limited his impact. Now, under Luis Enrique, Dembele is central to the strategy and a guaranteed starter.
Since shifting to a central forward position in January, the 28-year-old has been unstoppable. In 19 appearances leading the line this year, Dembele has netted 18 goals and provided four assists, averaging exceptional numbers like 5.15 shots and 0.98 non-penalty expected goals per 90 minutes. While his Ligue 1 performances contribute, his impact on the biggest stages is undeniable.
A slower start to the group stage meant PSG effectively entered knockout mode early. With the stakes high, Dembele delivered crucially. He helped turn the tide against Manchester City, scored a vital equalizer against Liverpool in the Round of 16, and silenced the Emirates crowd. In PSG`s last 10 crucial Champions League matches, Dembele has contributed eight goals and three assists. His transformation from a talented but inconsistent player to a decisive match-winner has been instrumental in PSG reaching their second final.
Entering the Allianz Arena, Dembele is arguably the premier player on the field, demanding tactical adjustments from opponents. Having often played a supporting role, Dembele is now the headline act in this Champions League final.
2. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, PSG
Potentially challenging Dembele for that spotlight is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, operating on the left flank. Kvaratskhelia is a true defense-breaker, capable of frustrating defenders to the point of resorting to fouls not out of tactical sense, but sheer desperation to stop the player who has been tormenting them.
Jurrien Timber`s experience in the semifinal first leg exemplified this. Timber, recognized as one of Europe`s top one-on-one defenders, struggled against Kvaratskhelia, fouling him repeatedly in the opening minutes. Considering how Kvaratskhelia punished Aston Villa when they failed to close him down, fouling him might even seem like a pragmatic approach.
It`s worth noting Kvaratskhelia`s discipline despite his dazzling skill set. He`s a diligent worker, prepared to track Denzel Dumfries defensively. However, it`s his attacking flair that captivates. Nicknamed “Kvaradona” after emerging from Batumi to lead Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years, his feet possess a touch of magic. If there`s a moment of individual brilliance in the final akin to Gareth Bale`s bicycle kick or Zinedine Zidane`s volley, it`s most likely to come from Kvaratskhelia.
3. Lautaro Martinez, Inter
Beginning with two PSG attackers shouldn`t imply a lack of quality at Inter, especially with Lautaro Martinez in outstanding form in the Champions League. The Argentine striker has scored in every knockout round, making a remarkable recovery from a muscle injury to play a starring role in the thrilling 4-3 semifinal second leg victory over Barcelona.
The 27-year-old embodies this Inter squad: battle-hardened in high-pressure situations. While potentially past his absolute peak after years at the top, his tactical intelligence and experience allow him to deliver in crucial moments. His partnership and understanding with Marcus Thuram in a two-striker system pose unique challenges for PSG, challenges they rarely face at this level. Martinez shows no hesitation looking ahead to his second final in three years.
“We need to analyze PSG`s strengths and weaknesses to exploit them and make it a great match and final,” he stated. “Above all, we need to enjoy it, because it`s been a tough competition, and reaching the final twice in three years shows we deserve it. We`ve worked hard, stayed humble, and want to keep improving.”
“Experiencing another final of this magnitude is incredible. It`s a dream within reach again, one that has been missing for Inter for a long time. I just want to enjoy this moment, this final, this game. If we achieve our goal, it will be a dream come true.”
4. Yann Sommer, Inter
Despite their excellent attackers, it`s hard to imagine Inter reaching this stage without Yann Sommer in goal. Across 13 Champions League games, he has conceded 11 goals and, impressively, prevented 5.23 goals based on the expected goals (xG) value of shots faced. His strong performances aren`t limited to weaker opponents. Consider his displays in recent key matches:
- vs. Manchester City: faced five shots on goal, made five saves, prevented 1.2 goals.
- vs. Arsenal: faced four shots on goal, made four saves, prevented 1.65 goals.
- vs. Bayern Munich (two-legged quarterfinal): faced 13 shots on goal, made 10 saves, prevented 0.21 goals.
- vs. Barcelona (two-legged semifinal): faced 19 shots on goal, made 14 saves, prevented 1.74 goals.
To outshine Gianluigi Donnarumma in this season`s Champions League is a significant feat, and Sommer has certainly done that.
As his performance at Euro 2020 showed, Sommer is a goalkeeper who excels on the biggest occasions. His stunning display against Barcelona in the semifinal second leg, holding them to just three goals, might be his peak this season. His precise dives and especially a close-range block that left Eric Garcia stunned were remarkable. For a 37-year-old, his agility to shuffle across his goal and maintain balance for meaningful saves is exceptional.
Given PSG`s ability to control territory and their potent attack, Sommer is likely to face a busy day. He has averaged 4.4 shots on target faced per 90 minutes this Champions League season. So far, he has consistently delivered for Inter when needed most, and they will surely rely on him again on Saturday.
5. Achraf Hakimi, PSG
With only one spot left, many candidates emerge. Alessandro Bastoni might be the world`s best playmaking center back, and Vitinha could be the best midfielder. While this final may lack the typical Premier League giants or Spanish powerhouses, and some former stars have departed PSG, the talent level remains exceptionally high.
Prominently featured among these stars is Achraf Hakimi, a vital component of this PSG side. Inter, where he previously excelled on the right flank before joining PSG in 2021, is well aware of his capabilities. Just as he did at Inter, Hakimi can effectively manage the entire right flank almost single-handedly when required.
He is highly effective going forward, ranking just behind Barcola and Dembele in penalty box touches. Any full-back averaging over two shots per 90 minutes poses a significant attacking threat, especially with the quality of strikes like the one against Arsenal in the semifinal second leg. Although that goal came from broken play, it highlights one of Hakimi`s key strengths: his ability to step infield and pose a threat, not just on the overlap. Many full-backs make devastating overlap runs, but a growing number also impact the game with underlapping runs and cutting inside. As his touch map suggests, Hakimi is adept at both.
Now in his seventh season at an elite European club, Hakimi`s defensive skills have significantly improved. His ability to effectively counter-press when caught high up the pitch contributes to PSG being one of the most effective elite sides without possession. Only 10 players have won possession in the attacking third more often than the Moroccan this season, and none of them are defenders. If opponents try to get behind him, his athleticism allows him to recover quickly. Should he manage to overcome the challenge posed by Bastoni and Federico Dimarco, forcing Dimarco to focus more on defending than his own attacking threat, Hakimi could have as substantial an impact on this match as anyone.
