Join Marko and Mark as they break down the hype and intricacies ahead of the epic Champions League final between Inter Milan and PSG. In this action-packed episode of Semi Informed Football, the duo share insider betting odds, examine team strengths, and deliver their bold predictions to get you fired up for one of football’s biggest nights.
Marko
Hello, everyone, and welcome back to some in-form football podcast. Today we're going to be focusing on the Champions League final between Inter FC of Milan and PSG. On the show today is Marco and Mark. Mark, how are you doing?
Mark
Awesome. Marco It's the eve of the Champions League final. This is a big event in and my schedule on the year. I'm always looking forward to the final regardless of who's playing. If you're a fan of the game, this has got to be at the top of your list.
Marko
Yeah. All right. Crazy. So we're going to focus on the hype. The team strengths, stand out players. I'm going to actually throw in some betting odds. Not that I'm not. I bet on the game. I never bet on the game. I don't bet. Period. Slay the truth. But I guess I.
Mark
Said, Did you hear that? Sandro Tonali.
Marko
Right. Right. To take my lead. Right. Stay out of trouble. No, but anyway, I just think it's really interesting. How? I don't know, for lack of a better word, Vegas or whoever it is actually kind of takes a look at it right here. And then we're actually going to take a look at our predictions. Mark, that's always a favorite part of this right here.
Marko
Okay, cool. I just want to point out that, like among all of this, that's never happening, like all the the leaves kind of wrapping up and everything. There's been a lot of news in the world of football, so let's just kind of get that out of the way because I just want to acknowledge a lot of that stuff right here and just put that.
So the conference league final, that was that you know what honestly were Bettis were. I thought that they came out pretty strong like I didn't really expect a Chelsea loss there. But Chelsea came back and you know what they ended up putting away. But you got to give that that arsenal. They had a really, really good match.
00;01;42;20 - 00;02;04;25
Mark
Yeah, they did. And I don't know, maybe with all the hype with Anthony, I thought he was going to do something. Yeah, that's right. He, he's had a great time, that is. But maybe there's too much pressure there now. Chelsea's a talented squad to win this third tier tournament, so.
Yeah, well, that's good. And again, just not to belabor the point, but the fact that they might be adding Liam Delap is really interesting. So trying not want to wait for Manchester United.
Mark
Yeah, you know what? Not enough people are talking highly enough about Delap, but the lob coming from the city Academy I believe is an under 21 for England. He's a great player, is a great addition.
Marko
Yeah I think he will. He'll do well especially kind of linking up with Palmer this kind of move on around here. Napoli I think set air on the on the last day like it looks like between Napoli and Inter they were kind of trickling into this but for this to happen again Napoli's second Scudetto in three years honestly you got to give that and you got to give that to, to a team led by Conte who well, at this point I don't think he's leaning towards staying either anything.
Mark
So the latest I heard was that he sat down with De Laurentiis and ironed it out and that he is staying. Yeah. I mean, that's the latest that I've heard. I think he's changed. Yeah, he's done a great job. Yeah. You know, it's so funny. He's the one who believed in Lukaku the most. Yes. And together they delivered.
Marko
Yeah.
Mark
What's amazing about this story is that I don't think many people thought Napoli would do this after losing both caviar and osimhen in.
Marko
The same season without him and before the season started. And for Australia and in January. Unreal But we're going to yeah we're going to talk about it virtually afterwards. Yeah yeah spoke.
Mark
And just I think now Napoli if they if they can really lock down contain all these rumors about signing Kevin de Bruyne I garnered Joe and Jonathan David I think Napoli want to make a push in the Champions League.
Marko
Yeah amazing other things killing Mbappé winning golden shoe. How was their coaching carousel. Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid Erik ten hag to Bayer Leverkusen. And then your point right now with context and who knows what's happening with Klopp because I think he's getting a little bit antsy in his role at like what is it, the head of sports at Red Bull Sports.
Mark
So yeah, and also with Max Allegri, a lot of teams looking to to sign him. Now it looks like AC Milan might be the frontrunners now.
Marko
There we go. Very interesting. Okay, so let's jump into the Champions League final, the hype and the buildup. How much hype has actually been for this game?
Mark
Quite a bit, I think. And I think so because, first of all, PSG hasn't won this tournament before. Yes. And Inter hasn't won in quite some time.
Marko
And that lots of redemption for them from 2023. Just two years ago.
Mark
Yeah. Two years ago you were here. Think about how impossible it is to to make it back to the finals. So I think for a lot of neutrals, myself included, it's going to be exciting to see these two teams battle it out. Yeah. A new champion, right? Not your Madrid.
Marko
Yeah. So you mentioned PSG. So PSG lost to Bayern in that weird COVID season of 2020. Another thing, too, is that the only other French team to actually win the Champions League is Marseilles back in 1993. And if you ever want to kind of Google something a lot of controversy of how they were playing, you know, with respect to sort of match fixing within with within leagues was really, really interesting.
Marko
And one really interesting thing that I would say. So Marseilles is very, very adamant that they have been the only French team to ever win the Champions League. So this is the story that I saw on Fred. So Threads is my new social media network of choice, but on threads it is some somebody was saying that in the city of Marseilles you cannot find an entire jersey They sold out everywhere.
Marko
Everybody will be wearing inter jerseys in the city of Marseilles this week, which I think is a pretty good of, you know, kind of kind of a little bit of a gap.
Mark
Yeah. You know, it's funny, I remember years ago, I think the final was a it was a UVA Madrid final. And in Barcelona, they were selling UVA jerseys like hotcakes.
Marko
You can see the sport right now. It's true. It's true. Okay. Let's actually talk about sort of the team strengths of these of these squads. So right now, Inter Milan always know this is again, it's not much of a different team from 2023. But again, my reaction to that into the Inter Milan team is strong defensive framework they have those reliance on the wing back.
So you see the martial on one side and you see the dumpsters on the other site and having not been super resilient in these knockout rounds, like it's unreal.
Mark
Dumfries is so underrated. He's been an incredible player. Same with the national team. When he plays for the Dutch, he really is underrated. Going back to the point you made about the difference between this intrasquad and last time is the addition of Marcus Thuram and Marcus Thuram has been phenomenal. He's helped carry Inter when Lautaro was either injured or not producing like he did last year.
So now with Lautaro, I'm going to say he's healthy. And with Thuram we will see how the game goes. One thing though, I did notice about Thuram in the Barcelona sort of series there was that he he was getting tired towards the end of the game where I felt like the Barcelona players kept running at full speed. Right?
Yeah. So it'll be interesting to see how how they're managed their minutes, right?
Marko
Yeah. So what let's take a look at the predicted lineup. So I pulled this just this morning. So Matthias Sommer in net we see that on the on the back three which have been on for a back three all season is the very a chirpy and bastoni. Okay they're mid which I I've I've said this on a podcast before is like one of my like more more solid mids that I think in Europe right now are Dumfries as the back Barella challenge Paolo Mkhitaryan and DeMarco on the other side too.
And you're a dual striker system of both Lautaro and tramp. So. TURAN being in there, being the new addition to that, adding a little bit of sort of kind of that youthful energy too, as well. But I think, you know, that's how Inter's kind of lining up. Now, let's actually take a look, because it's also PSG. So what's PSG known for?
So kind of their high energy attack? They're really bit more of a possession based style. And there's that now midfield. Now I'm going I'm actually going to go right into their lineup right now and then we'll we'll take a look at them there. Madrid also Donnarumma is going to be in that and they're going to have a back four for Keaney Marquinhos, Posh Poncho and Mendez and their midfield is going to be of nevers of 18 year Ruiz and upfront which is I think people a lot of people are getting introduced to does Ridgeway Yes.
Mark
Yes they're.
Marko
Yeah Dembele as their striker and part on the other side so this team's a really, really strong attack and we're not even mentioning Bradley.
Mark
Barca. I was going to play Bradley Barcola. Yeah.
Marko
Yeah. No, no. But you know what? Honestly, you've got to give it to I guess that their depth right now because it looks like maybe do a might be the preferred starter with that but again it's all with some energy off the bench.
Mark
Well that's the thing when we talk about managing a game like this, it's a final and you don't know how it's going to go. Oftentimes finals are sort of cautious, right? And if you're playing a cautious game, there's a likelihood to go into extra time or into penalty shots. So if they do start do A and Markel is coming off the bench, that's a fantastic substitute to bring in for energy, for goal scoring for all this stuff late in the game.
Marko
Right. Another thing again, there's been news all week so you just keep on reading things up for Chelsea actually a what was a healthy scratch for the the coupe de France the win over and this is not REM or rains it's Rahm I think that's how you pronounce it. I don't know I'm going to go back and check that right now.
But all I heard that I'm like, I've never heard of pronounce about way, but that's how the French pronounce it. So I'm actually go with that. So that bit that's interesting. Again, you've mentioned this on podcast Password FAQ Shell, you has been such a phenomenal January add to this team and he's such a such talented player.
Mark
Super talented. I'm actually going to say that he's probably the hungriest player of these two squads. Yeah, I think, you know, he's wanted to play champions, he's wanted to go far. He keeps getting better and better each game. I just feel like he is the hungriest out of everybody.
Marko
Yeah, let's actually look. Move to the manager. So, Luis Enrique. So he won this with Brazil back in 2015. I don't have samaritans.org Inzaghi on the inter inter side. What do you think about the match up between these? You think these are both equally very, very strong coaches?
Mark
Yes, absolutely. I think they're both equally matched. It's nice to see a guy like Enrique. Yeah, you have a talented Barcelona squad, but to go to another club and put in your system and prove your system works by reaching the finals. Yeah, right. And Enrique is a fantastic coach. He knows what he's doing. On the flip side, in Zagreb, again, back to the finals again, Right.
Mark
So Choo choo. Amazing coaches, experienced coaches. And when I say experience, I'm saying they will both know what to do in the late game scenarios.
Marko
And try.
Mark
And I'm sure both of them are also and I'm sure both of them are also planning late game set plays, looking for corners and what to do.
Marko
Right, Right.
Mark
So taking from sort of what Arsenal did with their unique corner kick strategies and set ups in the box, that's what I'm expecting these two great coaches to do.
Marko
Amazing. It's a little sick. A look at standout players and I'm going to throw at Inter Milan first. Who do you think is going to be a standout player or maybe a difference maker in this match?
Mark
Okay, I think Surround is fantastic. Now, but I'm going to say that again. Dumfries Yes. Denzel Dumfries And I think this is the time that Lautaro Martinez really has to solidify, I guess, his standing in world football, so to speak, right? There's a time when Messi's eventually going to have to hang him up. And so for the National Club, who's your next guy?
It has to be Lautaro It could be Julian Alvarez, but I think if he really wants to prove himself, he's got to be a difference maker.
Marko
And interesting. So I'm going to take a honestly, I think laterals as solid as you can get an answer. Like I honest through my prediction, I guess he's going to score in this game. Like I can't see that not happening. Not I'm going to cheat a little bit with this because he's actually saved Inter against Bayern. But I like Fritzie Fortes.
I like I feel like off the bench he's going to be a difference maker like this is something that might go down the stretch so that's a little bit tricky with the we didn't mention this in the coaches, but I really appreciate Simone Inzaghi's really good use of the bench and he's like, he's got a few players coming off the bench.
So Dumfries, Carlos Augusto. Yes, so Tehrami as well, right? So that's also a little bit of a hidden, hidden gem right there. So let's see, how can you he kind of manages bench but I like I have full confidence in the way he managed dispatch wants a PSG who what do you think that this difference makers are going to be like Neymar stand up Wow.
Mark
Khvara
Marko
Yeah yeah yeah.
Mark
Okay. Yeah coverage is the by far the standout to me. The difference maker. He doesn't need to score.
Marko
A goal.
Mark
To stand out his play off the ball or his assists the way he draws defenders towards him. If he draws a double coverage or a triple coverage and he dishes it into into space, he's really setting up his team. The other guy going to go with his, I think Ousmane Dembele a force. I think Ousmane Dembele will score simply because I think he's really reflecting on his career, the time that he spent at Barcelona.
Mark
It wasn't always so positive, and now he's made it to the finals of the Champions League, and I think he really wants to prove his worth as well.
Marko
Okay, Interesting.
Mark
Right, Right. One more player that I think will be impactful, this game who also is really hungry is.
Marko
Hakimi Yeah, I stole that for him. So that from me. So. Hakimi who ranked? Hakimi Who stinks? It came from Inter being wanting to be sort of a leader on this team and really give icing his reasons, like his decision to go to PSG, so on. Honestly, I like that as well. I am, yeah. You know, for Chelsea you have that as well.
Marko
Desiree do a like I said, I've been paying attention to him for weeks. Like, I really think that's, you know, coming out of nowhere, like a lot of people that don't understand the sort of I guess the French system really have never heard of them. But like, I feel like Bradley Barkley might be a difference maker as well.
Marko
Like I am bursting onto the scene. I think he's such a very, very quality player and looks like like he might start this from the bench. But again, we'll see.
Marko
You know, that's it. It's it's going to come down to a lot of players, but one, I guess one player and we haven't even taken a look at in the net. But Donnarumma, I feel that if this goes 120 minutes, if this goes to penalty kicks done, a room is going to Donnarumma is going to come out with this one.
Mark
Yeah. No, I have to agree that first of all his gargantuan size. Right. And so I do think that if it goes to kicks Donnarumma has so much experience did it in the in Europa. Yeah. As you won against England in that penalty shoot out there. So and he's been solid all this time.
Marko
Okay perfect So I'm going to jump into right now some betting odds now I was on a Wednesday so we're recording this on Friday right before a Champions League so pulled this on Wednesday. So this probably while we fluctuated however as of Wednesday the current betting odds were PSG were favored by plus 125 inter plus 230 and a draw of plus 21 to 20.
Marko
So inter is favored in this. Okay, so let's kind of jump into what you think is going to happen, your prediction. And, you know, ignoring and ignoring the stats that I just mentioned. But like what do you see coming out?
Mark
I I'm going to say my prediction is that PSG is going to win. Yeah, I think it'll be three, two and the reason why I think PSG will survive and be the champions is because they're younger, they're younger, they got fresher legs, they got that speed. Inter is great. They've made it all this way. But I just think they're a step too slow.
Mark
And so I'm going to give it to PSG 3 to 2.
Marko
Oh, interesting. So I think my standard has always been to go with the opposite of your pick. I get again, like I've been following PSG for like a good two years now and I love if the surface is funny because Mbappé had like this plan of what he wanted PSG to be, you know, building out French players and everything like that.
Marko
But I had to have him leaving before they're actually realizing this plan. I do. I do appreciate PSG as a team and I definitely think that they deserve to be here. However, I'm going to go with Inter and I'm going to go with a weird score. I think it's going to be a low scoring game. I say one nothing and I think it's going to be a lot harder.
Marko
The scores that however, you know what I never read on these predictions How Well.
Mark
Because it is a final that's not really far fetched the FA finals are often very tight very close. I think my predictions are kind of wild. Three, two, a one.
Marko
Yeah, I don't know. And that would be an exciting final. So, you know, I'd be looking forward to that one as well. So I know I do like the sort of I love the fact that you know what, they're from two different leagues, such great teams from different leagues with PSG kind of putting away three English clubs on their way here, you know, top clubs online the week or so.
So this has been a really, really interesting. So I want everybody to please enjoy this game on Saturday. This is going to be an amazing game and honestly, I think we're going to see top level talent. And you know what? From that, I guess what we're going to do is we're going to meet we're going to reconnect on a sort of a wrap up of what we thought about the game.
So whatever we connect that well, we'll we'll send the invite over to Matteo as well. And also a difficult a little bit of a promo to, I guess the first that I consider the Club World Cup. But it's happening. Right? So anyway, with that said so Ahmad, enjoy that game.
Mark
Yeah, you too Marco.
Marko
And until next time we're keeping you...
Mark
Semi-Informed ...