The UEFA Champions League final, the pinnacle of European club football, is fast approaching. With the semifinals now concluded, the stage is set for the ultimate contest where footballing history will be made. This season began back in July with 81 hopeful teams, progressing through the unique 36-team league phase, culminating in just two finalists. Here`s a comprehensive guide to the upcoming final:
Who are the finalists?
The 2024-25 final will feature Italy`s Inter Milan against France`s Paris Saint-Germain. Inter secured their spot after a memorable semifinal victory over Barcelona while PSG advanced by comfortably defeating Arsenal.
Inter Milan are three-time winners of the trophy, their most recent final appearance being a 1-0 loss to Manchester City only three seasons prior. Paris Saint-Germain, in contrast, are seeking their first-ever Champions League title. Should they win, they would become only the second French club to achieve this, following Marseille. PSG`s sole previous final appearance was in 2020, where they were defeated by Bayern Munich during the pandemic.
Neither team was widely considered a primary favorite at the tournament`s outset, given the recent dominance of Spanish, English, and German clubs. A club from outside these three nations hasn`t lifted the trophy since Inter Milan themselves in 2010. France`s only win dates back to 1993.
Despite evolving squads over the years, Inter have consistently competed at the highest level, overcoming strong opponents like Bayern Munich and Barcelona on their path to the final. While some recognized Inter`s potential due to their cohesive unit and progress, many preseason predictions favored traditional powerhouses such as Manchester City, Barcelona, or Real Madrid.
Paris Saint-Germain have been perennial contenders in recent seasons, boasting superstar players. Interestingly, they reached this final after key player departures before the season, and despite this, they enter the match seen by many as the slight favorites.
Date and Venue
The highly anticipated final is scheduled for Saturday, May 31. It will be held at the prestigious Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany. While standard Champions League matches usually occur on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (with one Thursday exception this season), the final traditionally takes place on a Saturday.
Kickoff Time
The match is scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Saturday, May 31.
How to Watch
In the US, viewers can watch the game live on CBS and stream it via Paramount+, which serves as the primary broadcast home for the Champions League.
Dominic Ashworth