For Inter to pull off an upset and lift the Champions League trophy, their defensive performance will undoubtedly be paramount. Simone Inzaghi`s ideal scenario isn`t relying on last-ditch saves, as seen with Yann Sommer against Barcelona in the semifinal. Instead, Inter aims to prevent the ball from reaching dangerous areas altogether.
Inter`s defensive structure when out of possession could be their secret weapon, potentially tipping the final in their favor. What makes their approach so impressive is its adaptability and unpredictability.
Consider the start of the second leg against Barcelona. Inzaghi implemented one of the most aggressive pressing schemes Inter has used in the competition, sending his wing-backs high to challenge opposing full-backs and relying on his wide centre-backs to win duels against players like Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.
In the image, Henrikh Mkhitaryan tracks Frenkie De Jong, discouraging a pass already covered by Marcus Thuram. Federico Dimarco rushed forward to cut off the passing option Pau Cubarsi was forced to take – a sideways ball to Eric Garcia. Had Barcelona not used this route, they likely would have had to pass back to Marc-André ter Stegen (the Barcelona keeper in the semifinal context, though the source text incorrectly mentions Szczesny), forcing a long ball towards Ferran Torres who would likely lose a duel against Francesco Acerbi.
Nicolo Barella is vital to this setup. His energy enables him to provide cover when either striker presses the goalkeeper (Ter Stegen), cutting off quick passes to centre-backs and shielding options to De Jong. Across both legs, he acted almost like an off-ball opportunist. Even in a still frame not focused on him, you can sense his anticipation when Pedri receives the ball in a tough spot with his back turned.
It`s clear how their aggressive approach against Barcelona could be replicated against Paris Saint-Germain, who aim to play through lines. However, this carries significant risk. Barcelona`s wide outlets at the San Siro were Eric Garcia, a centre-back playing out of position, and Gerard Martin, a promising young full-back, but neither is quite on the level of Alejandro Balde.
Against PSG, those wide threats would be Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi, widely considered among the top players globally in their roles. When Denzel Dumfries dropped deeper in the second leg to help Yann Aurel Bisseck handle Raphinha, Martin capitalized, providing two assists. Consider the potential impact Mendes or Hakimi could have on the other wing.
Alternatively, Inter isn`t limited to this high-press strategy. They are perfectly capable of reducing their pressing intensity; throughout the competition, their Passes Per Defensive Action (PPDA), a metric for pressing, stands at 15.7, which is significantly lower than average. If necessary, they are ready to defend deep.
As Pep Guardiola noted early in the Champions League campaign, before his team was held to a 0-0 draw at the Etihad Stadium: “They have good high pressing and go man to man… and after they defend with typical Italian mentality that they have to suffer.” Sometimes, this “suffering” borders on the extreme, and their clean sheet against Manchester City arguably owed more to fortune than resolute last-ditch defending.
Nevertheless, this is a team adept at surviving intense pressure within their own penalty area. Among the 36 teams from the group stage, only nine allowed opponents over 30 touches in their box per game. Inter and Feyenoord were the sole teams from this group to reach the knockout rounds. While this statistic is influenced by facing teams like Barcelona and Bayern Munich, Inter appears comfortable defending deep when required.
Throughout the competition, Inter has relied heavily on shot blocking. Ten times opponents` shots struck a black and blue shirt (the source text mentions Arsenal, though they were not in Inter`s path). Bayern had eight shots blocked at the San Siro, and even Young Boys forced Yann Aurel Bisseck and teammates to block seven attempts. With the excellent Yann Sommer behind them, Inter is well-equipped to defend deep when necessary.
Relying solely on deep defending for 90 minutes is risky, just as Inzaghi wouldn`t want his players chasing PSG relentlessly across the pitch for the entire match. However, by combining elements of both high pressing and deep defending, Inter might just find the decisive advantage on this massive stage.
Benedict Kingsley 
Adrian Whitmore