The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League campaign has reached its business end, and the final is just around the corner. Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan are the two teams that punched their tickets to Munich after knocking off Arsenal and Barcelona, respectively. And there can be no denying that both teams deserve their spots.
PSG and Inter Set For Munich Showdown
The French champions were supposed to struggle this term following the departure of Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid last summer on a free transfer. He was the third major departure in a year following the exits of Neymar and Lionel Messi 12 months prior. However, Luis Enrique has managed to transform the Parisians from a squad of individual superstars to a genuine team that can play some incredible football together.
While PSG are far easier on the eye, the Nerazzurri’s road to the final has been built on the back of a staunch defence anchored by Alessandro Bastoni. The Italians conceded just one goal throughout the entirety of the eight-game initial league phase, winning six of those contests in the process. But in their thrilling quarterfinal and semifinal victories against Bayern Munich and Barcelona, they proved they can win firefights as well, winning those contests 4-3 and 7-6, respectively.
With the Allianz Arena showdown just around the corner, online sports betting sites make the contest too close to call. The latest odds from Bovada’s sports betting site currently have PSG listed as a narrow 1/2 favorite to lift the trophy, with Inter listed as 5/4 underdogs.
But should the Nerazzurri manage to upset the odds, they would follow in the footsteps of these other teams, which managed to provide us with shockers throughout this year’s continental campaign.
Manchester City Scrape Through to the Knockout Round
Just two years ago, Manchester City were winning the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history. Rodri’s late goal in Istanbul was enough to secure a 1-0 victory against Inter Milan and complete a famous treble for the Blues. However, an injury to the talismanic Spanish midfielder in a Premier League clash against Arsenal at the start of the season left Pep Guardiola’s side looking like a shadow of its former self.
While the Blues struggled domestically this term, their woes truly reared their head on the continental stage. A 4-1 defeat away at Ruben Amorim’s Sporting CP set alarm bells ringing, before the throwing away of a three-goal lead in the 3-3 draw at home to Feyenoord, and a 2-0 defeat away at Juventus put the former champions on the brink of a shocking early elimination. Another defeat in the penultimate game of the league phase away at PSG meant that City had to beat Club Brugge at home on the final day in order to progress to the knockout round, and that very nearly went pear-shaped as well.
Guardiola’s side went in 1-0 down at halftime in that particular contest, before a second-half rally saw them ultimately win 3-1 and progress by the skin of their teeth. Admittedly, their run wouldn’t go much further, and a resounding 6-3 aggregate defeat against Real Madrid in the first knockout round sent them packing. That was less of a shock, but City’s woes this term certainly were a surprise to many.
Aston Villa Shine Upon Their Champions League Return
Premier League side Aston Villa actually won the European Cup way back in 1982. The following season, they featured in the tournament again, but between then and this season, they went a whopping 41 years without sitting at the most elite table in European football. Their stellar efforts domestically last season saw them finish fourth in the top flight, securing their return to the Champions League, and boy, did they make the most of their opportunity.
The Villans began their campaign with a blistering 3-0 victory in their opener away at Young Boys, before they stunned heavyweights Bayern Munich with a 1-0 win at Villa Park on matchday two. One game later, they took their record to a perfect three out of three with a 2-0 victory against Bologna on home turf.
Further victories followed against RB Leipzig and Celtic, securing Aston Villa’s spot in the top eight and sealing their direct progression to the Round of 16. There, they thumped Club Brugge 6-2 over two legs, and it looked like they might have one final trick up their sleeves against Paris Saint-Germain in the quarterfinals.
Trailing by four goals with just an hour remaining of their two-legged tie, quick-fire strikes from Youri Tielemans, John McGinn, and Ezri Konza put the West Midlands outfit on the brink of one of the greatest comebacks the Champions League has ever seen. Unfortunately, however, they were unable to find the all-important equalizer, and they ultimately bowed out with their heads held high.
