Paris Saint-Germain are European champions for the first time after a record-breaking 5-0 victory over Inter in Munich Germany.
In an intense ninety minuits of an exiting football spectacle Luis Enrique’s boys exhibited a mastery in the game of football, with perfect and precise passes, excellent ball possession and mobility that paid off, five times and kept onlookers on their feet.
Inter had just trailed for 17 minutes and it did not take long for them to fall behind on this occasion.
Paris, Vitinha picked the first lock with a perfectly-weighted pass for Désiré Doué, who in turn showed a silky turn around skill, to square for Hakimi to convert from close range against his former club. For PSG 1 Inter 0
At the twentieth minute, Ousmane Dembélé provided the silver-service assist, racing clear down the left before checking back on the edge of the penalty area to locate Doué.
The 19-year-old needed one touch with his chest to take control and another with his right foot to fire in a shot which deflected in off Federico Dimarco. PSG 2 Inter 0
The Italian club side fought hard, as the half wore on but had only off-target headers from Francesco Acerbi and Marcus Thuram to show for their efforts.
Though there was renewed vigour from Simone Inzaghi’s side after the break, it was Les Rouge-et-Bleu who once again had the creative and clinical edge.
It was Vitinha’s turn to drive decisively from midfield just after the hour, exchanging passes with Dembélé before sliding through for Doué to drill emphatically into the bottom right of the goal registering 3 for PSG and 0 for Inter Milan.
It was a different corner but the same result ten minutes later, Dembélé laying on his second assist in the game for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who fired low into the net. For PSG 4 Inter 0
Gianluigi Donnarumma pulled off a stunning save to keep out Thuram and there was still time for Senny Mayulu to apply the record-breaking flourish.
Mayulu, also 19, combined neatly with fellow replacement Bradley Barcola before smashing a powerful strike in off a post. In 90 minutes, Paris had secured the biggest-ever margin of victory in a European Cup final. 5 – 0
Man of the Match, Désiré Nonka-Macho Doué
With “Two goals and an assist in a UEFA Champions League final at the age of only 19, Désiré Doué was incredible. He played with unbelievable maturity, was very generous in laying up Hakimi for his goal and also worked very hard in defence.”
PSG’s journey to her first UEFA champions league trophy.
Paris St-Germain’s journey to Champions League glory started when the final giant symbol of the club’s so-called “bling bling” era was swept away.
Kylian Mbappe’s decision to join Real Madrid last summer saw the only remaining member of the superstar attacking trio, which included Neymar and Lionel Messi, leave Paris, clearing the way for PSG’s switch of strategy under coach Luis Enrique.
Luis Enrique the footballing architect
Described by those within PSG as “a footballing architect”, Luis Enrique seized his chance, convincing club president Nasser al-Khelaifi and football advisor Luis Campos that he could build a younger, better, more cohesive side in the post-Mbappe age.
PSG, fuelled by brilliant young talents such as 19-year-old Desire Doue and Georgian genius Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and inspired by Luis Enrique, who has known such tragedy and triumph in his life, have become a genuine Champions League feel-good story on the pitch.
