Champions League Final

The following article contains details of the 2024-25 Champions League.

Champions League Final

Munich hosted Barcelona and Inter Milan in the 2024-25 Champions League, with both sides having their best eleven on the field for the opening minutes. Robert Lewandowski thought he had the lead, only to miss to the left twice. Marcus Thuram then had two chances go begging in the same passage of play. Instead, Henrikh Mkhitaryan was found with a through ball and pocketed the opening goal. However, the second half saw Lewandowski equalise when he was found alone on the edge of the box. Barcelona could have scored again only to fail at each attempt.

 

During extra time, Thuram was caught offside. Though Lewandowski and Ansu Fati both had key chances saved, it showed both sides were keen to finish the match in 120 minutes. Davide Frattesi had a chance saved as well in the second period. Francesco Acerbi nearly scored from the resulting corner. Down the other end, Gerard Martin’s header had to be saved by Yann Sommer’s foot.

 

Penalties ensued to crown the Champions League winner:

 

-             Lewandowski had his shot saved

-             Hakan Çalhanoğlu scored

-             Raphinha scored

-             Lautaro Martínez’s penalty was saved

-             Fernan Torres scored

-             Nicoló Barella scored

-             Ansu Fati scored

-             Thuram scored

-             Lamine Yamal had his penalty saved

-             Frattesi scored and gave Inter Milan the trophy

 

From 24th and just scraping into the Playoffs all the way to winning the tournament, it means just getting out of the league phase means anyone can win the whole thing. Even Barcelona came from 18th to make the Final.

 

Inter beat Celtic in the Playoffs, then saw off Monaco with a 3-1 aggregate. They demolished Arsenal 9-2 in the Quarters, before needing an extra time goal to overcome Girona. And then it was 4-3 on penalties with Sommer making two saves.

 

Thuram scored nine more goals than anyone else.