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PSG Take Control Early in Champions League Final \ TezzBuzz \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Paris Saint-Germain surged to a 2-0 halftime lead over Inter Milan in the Champions League final. Goals from Achraf Hakimi and Désiré Doué capped a dominant first-half performance. The French champions are now poised for their first-ever Champions League title.

Quick Looks

• PSG led 2-0 at halftime at Allianz Arena.
• Achraf Hakimi scored against his former club in the 12th minute.
• Désiré Doué’s shot deflected in for the second goal.
• PSG dominated possession and tempo throughout the first half.
• Inter Milan risks a second Champions League final loss in three years.
• PSG aims to win their first-ever Champions League title.

Deep Look

Paris Saint-Germain delivered a near-flawless first-half performance in the UEFA Champions League final on Saturday, taking a deserved 2-0 lead against Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena in Munich. Goals from Achraf Hakimi and Désiré Doué gave the French giants control of a highly anticipated encounter, as they chase their first-ever Champions League title after years of near-misses and heartbreak.

From the outset, PSG signaled their intent with sharp movement and tactical discipline, controlling possession and dictating the tempo. Under manager Luis Enrique’s guidance, the Parisian side played with confidence and cohesion, pressing high and exploiting gaps in Inter’s defensive shape. The breakthrough came just 12 minutes in and was a product of both quick thinking and technical brilliance.

Vitinha, a key figure in PSG’s midfield engine, found space in the center and delivered a perfectly weighted, threaded ball between the lines to Désiré Doué. The young French forward, one of the breakout stars of the season, showed maturity beyond his years by choosing not to shoot from a tight angle. Instead, he slid a pass across the six-yard box to an unmarked Hakimi, who simply tapped the ball into an open goal. Though Hakimi, a former Inter player, chose not to celebrate against his old club, the PSG fans in the stands erupted, lighting flares and chanting in celebration of the early lead.

Inter Milan, who have built their recent success on a solid backline and quick transitions, struggled to respond. Just eight minutes after the opening goal, their night got even more difficult. Once again, it was Doué who was involved. Cutting in from the right side of the penalty area, he aimed for goal with a low-driven shot. The ball took a cruel deflection off Inter defender Federico Dimarco, wrong-footing goalkeeper Yann Sommer and rolling into the back of the net. While the goal lacked the precision of the first, it demonstrated the momentum and intent PSG brought into the final.

By the half-hour mark, PSG had more than 65% possession and had limited Inter to just one shot on target. Kylian Mbappé, though yet to get on the scoresheet, was a constant threat with his movement and pace, drawing defenders and creating space for his teammates. Alongside him, Ousmane Dembélé’s direct runs and Doué’s clever positioning caused problems for Inter’s back three.

Inter’s midfield, usually orchestrated by Nicolò Barella and Hakan Çalhanoğlu, struggled to impose themselves. Their usual ability to disrupt and counter was stifled by the aggressive pressing and positional discipline of PSG’s midfield trio—Vitinha, Manuel Ugarte, and Warren Zaïre-Emery. Inter’s best chance came from a set-piece, but Lautaro Martínez’s header sailed well over the bar, reflecting the Italian side’s frustration and inefficiency in the final third.

This final carries emotional weight for both clubs. For PSG, it marks a return to the European showpiece for the first time since 2020, when they lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich. That final was seen as the culmination of the club’s heavy investment in star talent, but it ended in disappointment. Since then, PSG has restructured its squad, shifting focus from galácticos to a more balanced team built around youth, discipline, and long-term cohesion.

For Inter, this is their second Champions League final appearance in just three years, having fallen short in 2023 against Manchester City. The Nerazzurri, under Simone Inzaghi, have shown remarkable resilience and adaptability in European competitions but now face the very real prospect of a second heartbreak in a short span of time.

As the teams headed into halftime, PSG appeared poised, confident, and well-drilled—qualities they have not always displayed on Europe’s biggest stage. With 45 minutes left, the match is far from over, but Inter will need a massive turnaround to deny PSG what increasingly looks like their crowning moment in European football.

If the second half reflects the dominance of the first, PSG may finally lift the trophy that has long eluded them, completing a historic journey from contenders to champions.

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