

This Champions League final is more than just a match; it's a lifeline for a season that flirted with historic success but fell short domestically.
In Serie A, Inter was neck-and-neck with Napoli, tantalizingly close to pulling ahead until the penultimate round crowned Napoli champions. Further heartache came when fierce city rivals AC Milan, under the tactical guidance of Portuguese Sérgio Conceição, ousted them in the Italian Cup semifinals.
Lautaro Martínez has been Inter’s beacon in Europe, netting nine goals across 13 matches despite injury woes. Marcus Thuram and Hakan Çalhanoglu added their flair with four goals apiece, while Fratesi’s decisive strikes were timely lifelines.
This Saturday, Inter faces Paris Saint-Germain, themselves chasing a fourth European title. Inter's storied past includes the 1963/64 and 1964/65 European Cup victories, the latter against Benfica, and the celebrated 2009/10 Champions League win under José Mourinho.