Martinez, Dembele and other PSG and Inter players who could decide the Champions League final
Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan both overcame tough knockout draws to reach the Champions League final.
PSG, chasing their first ever European Cup, beat Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal in succession. Inter, in their second final in three years, edged past Bayern Munich and then survived a spectacular 7-6 aggregate semi-final against Barcelona.
A win would give Inter a fourth trophy lift (they last triumphed in 2010), and PSG a treble.
Both sides have some really great players. Here are five whose form could be decisive in the tie.
Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
Argentine striker Lautaro Martinez has led Inter’s charge with a potent goalscoring run. He has delivered 9 Champions League goals and 2 assists in 13 matches, making him Inter’s top scorer of the campaign.
Martinez has repeatedly shown an eye for goal in big moments: he opened the scoring in the second leg of the semi-final against Barcelona at the San Siro, helping Inter reach the final.
His movement off the last defender and clinical finishing have kept Inter dangerous even when chances are scarce. He has been in inspired form all season, and it could just end up being his season.
Ousmane Dembele (PSG)
He is a consistent shout for the Ballon d’Or. Need any more be said? The French winger has emerged as PSG’s most lethal attacker this season, scoring 8 goals in 9 Champions League games, often with decisive impact.
He scored to secure a 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield in the round of 16 to take the tie to penalties. He scored against Arsenal in the semi-final first leg. Beyond goals, Dembele has also created chances at a high rate. He has 4 assists in the Champions League for PSG. No teammate has produced more.
In short, every key match this year has seen Dembele influence the result, whether with a clever run that opened space or a composed finish, which is an indicator that PSG’s attack simply just flows through him.
Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan)
Inter’s engine in midfield, Barella has been central to both defence and build-up. He has logged 2 assists in 12 Champions League games, and while that number may be low, Barella’s value lies elsewhere.
His work rate and defensive sense are vital for Inter. Often the most advanced of their midfield three, he consistently presses opponents and breaks up play, and his tireless runs have unsettled opposing midfielders.
In the semi-final and quarter-final against Barcelona and Bayern, he was instrumental in winning back the ball and recycling possession under pressure. While his passing accuracy (81.5%) is lower than some peers, Barella often attempts line-breaking passes that trigger attacks.
His energy and ball-winning in midfield, his tackles, interceptions and smart passes, are the kind of concrete contributions that make victories possible for Inter.
Vitinha (PSG)
PSG’s midfield metronome, Vitinha has quietly dictated the pace for the Parisians all season. He appeared in all 16 Champions League matches for his side, chipping in two goals and one assist. More telling is his passing: he completed passes at 93.8% accuracy, the highest rate among all Inter and PSG players.
He regularly sprays pinpoint passes to wide attackers or threading through-balls from deep. In fact, Vitinha ranks second in Europe’s top five leagues for both touches (117) and passes (98) per 90 minutes.
To win, Inter would need to worry about keeping the Portuguese under control somehow. He constantly offers an outlet for his side to retain control. His ability to secure the ball and trigger attacks is so important to PSG’s game plan.
Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan)
Bastoni anchors Inter’s defense with calm brilliance. His 25 tackles and 57 ball recoveries in 13 Champions League games are a stark display of tireless defensive work.
Watching Bastoni shows that he is able to read the game exceptionally well and often intercepts passes before danger materialises. With 87.6% passing accuracy, he is also very good on the ball.
A good example is how his long diagonal switches against Bayern in the quarter-finals relieved pressure on Inter’s defence.
On Saturday, if the match were to drag on or Inter take the lead, his combative nature and resilience would become more and more useful as the clock ticks down.
