What the 2024-25 Champions League will be remembered for: Man City’s failure, PSG’s comeback, Barça’s goalscoring exploits and Inter’s fortitude
The 2024-25 Champions League final will be held on May 31 at the Allianz Arena. In the meantime, let’s take a look back at what this crazy season was like: a new format, endless intrigue and matches that became real dramas.
The Champions League has been rebooted this season: the group stage has turned into a quest and the knockout phase has become a lottery. Rice’s long shots against Real Madrid, Barça’s fiery thriller against Inter, PSG’s comeback after a poor start, and the rock ‘n’ roll of the knockout matches – each week added to the fire.
Who would have guessed the finalists back in August? Even the most experienced bettors with their incredible intuition and strategies for betting found themselves out of luck. Liverpool were brilliant during the league phase: the Reds looked like kings as they crushed Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and Milan. And then – a penalty shoot-out against PSG and an early end to the fight at Anfield.
That’s the magic of the Champions League. That’s why we love UEFA competitions in midweek – these matches often have plots that no scriptwriter could write. The new format has made the tournament even more unpredictable, and each game is truly decisive.
Season of sensations and brilliant individual performances
Several strong teams failed in the league phase of the 2024-25 Champions League. Paris Saint-Germain took a long time to find their play, RB Leipzig had one win and finished 32nd out of 36, and Manchester City barely made it to the knockout phase, only beating Dinamo Zagreb due to goal difference.
But in the knockout phase play-offs, the Citizens lost to Real Madrid in both matches without much chance and left the tournament. As for the Meringues, they didn’t impress either: Los Blancos eliminated Atlético with great difficulty and then were destroyed by Arsenal.
One of the main discoveries was Aston Villa. The English club played in Europe’s top club tournament for the first time in 42 years but managed to reach the quarter-finals, making a vivid impression with their play.
The teams from the Netherlands performed unexpectedly well. Feyenoord and PSV not only had a decent league phase but also sensationally eliminated Milan and Juventus in the knockout phase play-offs.
Barcelona surprised many: after finishing second in the league phase, the team quickly moved into the favorites after Liverpool’s elimination. Youth, speed and grit were their main weapons. But the Catalans’ real leader was the more experienced Raphinha. His technique, speed and goalscoring instinct made the Brazilian one of the main contenders for the Ballon d’Or. Even despite Barça’s elimination in the semi-finals, Raphinha remains the top scorer of the current Champions League. Robert Lewandowski has had a brilliant season too – the Polish striker has scored 11 goals and is one of the tournament’s top five scorers.
Barça was characterized by an exciting attacking style – the Catalans put on a real goalscoring show in every match. The 17-year-old Lamine Yamal impressed spectators not only with his age but also with his fantastic dribbling on the right wing, reminding fans why they love this game.
However, in the knockout matches, the youth’s zest was shattered by Inter’s strong character. Here the main role was played by Francesco Acerbi, the player who beat cancer twice and eventually ended the fairytale of Yamal and his teammates.
Paris Saint-Germain vs Inter: battle of styles in the Champions League final
Luis Enrique’s appointment has proved to be the right decision for the Parisians. The Spaniard has built a team that relies on young gifted players and a clear structure. It’s this model that could lead to a long-awaited Champions League title for the club that for years has counted on big international stars.
The list of the defeated opponents includes Brest, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal, who felt the power of the Parisian pressing. Ousmane Dembélé, who is showing his best football ever, is the leader of the renewed team.
At the same time, Simone Inzaghi takes Inter to the final again. His team combines experience and discipline to face richer and more starry opponents on equal terms. The defensive line is particularly impressive: with Yann Sommer at the back, the Nerazzurri defense has become a real wall. Inter dream of regaining their European glory and winning the tournament for the first time in 15 years.
Who will win the Champions League?
It’s impossible to predict the outcome of the final. PSG will almost certainly rely on ball control, while Inter will count on quick and sharp counterattacks. We shouldn’t expect many goals. A bet on the total under 2.5 looks reasonable – especially at odds of 1.83.
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