Champions League Final: Expect PSG to Dominate Possession, but Inter Could Still Prevail

In the build-up to Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final, one prediction seems almost certain: Paris Saint-Germain will dominate possession against Inter Milan.

PSG have averaged 60.1% possession across 16 matches this season — higher than any team except Manchester City and Bayern Munich. Inter, by contrast, have controlled just 47% of the ball, ranking below 22 of the 36 teams in the competition’s league phase.

However, as history shows, possession doesn’t guarantee victory. Manchester City’s Champions League campaigns in previous years serve as a reminder, and the 2022 final — when Liverpool, favourites over Real Madrid, lost despite dominating the ball — is a cautionary tale.

The odds at ESPN BET give PSG a 60% chance of lifting their first European Cup, while Inter have a 40% chance of claiming a fourth title. Inter’s strategy will likely mirror Madrid’s in 2022: sit deep, absorb pressure, and rely on key moments of brilliance to decide the match. PSG will keep the ball, but Inter’s counter-attacking prowess could prove decisive.

As the football world counts down to the final in Istanbul, attention turns to the stars who could define the night. In that spirit, we’ll rank the 30 best players set to shape this season’s Champions League final — a showcase of talent, strategy, and the fine margins that separate triumph from heartbreak.