Tournaments, friendlies and the Mundialito: fixture history between Inter and PSG

We've made it: after Inter's epic battle against Barcelona at San Siro, the second semi-final has decided who our opponents will be in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League Final. On Saturday 31 May at the Fußball Arena in Munich, Simone Inzaghi's Inter will face Paris Saint-Germain, who came out winners in their tie against Arsenal. The Nerazzurri will play the seventh final in their history between the Champions Cup and the Champions League (three wins), while PSG have made the final for only the second time, after their 1-0 loss in 2020 against Bayern Munich at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon.

It will be a completely new match: Inter and PSG will face off in the Champions League final, and it will be the first official match between the two sides. In history, the Nerazzurri and the Parisians have met six times, but always in summer tournaments or other friendlies.

THE 1987 MUNDIALITO

The first meeting between Inter and PSG dates back to 1987: the two sides faced off in the third and final edition of the Super Clubs Cup, known by fans with the more informal name, Mundialito. The tournament was inaugurated in 1981 to create a sort of Club World Cup, inviting teams who won at least one Intercontinental Cup, before over time becoming an invitational tournament, held in Milano. In the final edition of the tournament, played in June 1987, Inter, AC Milan, Porto, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain all took part in one group with single-legged fixtures. Inter's first game of the 1987 Mundialito was indeed against PSG: Trapattoni's Inter was made up of a few reserves, while PSG's standout talent was Safet Susic, the talented Bosnian midfielder. The game wasn't all that exciting and it ended goalless. Inter then lost to reigning European champions Porto, before beating Barcelona 3-1 and drawing 0-0 with AC Milan, who then won the tournament on seven points.

Milano, 21 June 1987, Mundialito Game 1 Inter 0-0 Paris Saint-Germain Inter: Malgioglio, A. Rivolta, Marangon (46' Verdelli), Baresi, Calcaterra, Passarella, Fanna (74' Civeriati), Piraccini, Altobelli, Matteoli, Garlini. Head Coach: Giovanni Trapattoni

Paris Saint-Germain: Bats, Baconnier, Tanasi, Rabat, Jeannol, Reynoud, Charbonnier (90' Couriol), Poullain, Bocande, Susic, Roux (66' Sandjak). Head Coach: Gérard Houllier

MARRAKESH, 2014

In winter 2014, Inter, under newly-appointed Roberto Mancini, faced Paris Saint-Germain in a friendly in Marakesh during the winter break. The Nerazzurri were a work in progress, while PSG were a team full of stars that had just qualified for the Champions League round of 16. Inter played well and resisted the Parisians for the whole of the first half: Icardi didn't make the most of a big chance, while Handanovic denied Ibrahimovic, Rabiot and Matuidi. After the break, there were a lot of changes: PSG got in front through Yohan Cabaye in the 56th minute and Inter couldn't find an equaliser, despite a good chance for the youngster Mbaye. It ended 1-0 to the Frenchmen, with Mancini meeting familiar faces that he managed before throughout his first time with the Nerazzurri: other than Ibrahimovic, the Brazilian Maxwell was also playing, but Thiago Motta was on the bench for the whole game.

Marrakesh (Morocco), 30 December 2014 Paris Saint Germain 1-0 Inter Goal: 56' Cabaye Paris Saint Germain: Douchez, Van der Wiel (72' Maxwell), Camara (61' Kymmakon), Aurier (50' Marquinhos), Digne, Chantome (89' Kimpembe), Verratti (85' Martin), Matuidi, Cabaye (61' Lucas), Rabiot, Ibrahimovic. Substitutes: Sirigu, Thiago Motta, Bahebeck, Maignan, Mory. Head Coach: Laurent Blanc

Inter: Handanovic (48' Carrizo), D' Ambrosio (49' Donkor), Ranocchia (46' Vidic), Andreolli (75' Palazzi), Juan Jesus (46' Dodò), M' Vila (58' Jonathan), Kuzmanovic (46' Krhin), Bonazzoli (58' Mbaye), Kovacic (46' Obi), Hernanes (49' G. Camara), Icardi (46' Puscas). Substitutes: Berni. Head Coach: Roberto Mancini

DOHA, 2015

A year later, on the same day, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter once again met during the winter break, this time in Doha, Qatar. It was a high-profile friendly to prepare for the resumption of the league, which was scheduled for January. Just like in the match 365 days earlier, Inter held their own against the French side, though without creating many goalscoring chances. The game wasn't a particularly lively affair and lacked goalmouth action. In the end, the only goal of the match was scored by 18-year-old Jean-Kévin Augustin, who finished off a move orchestrated by Marco Verratti. Notably, a very young Federico Dimarco made an appearance after being sent on in the 64th minute by Roberto Mancini.

Doha (Qatar), 30 December 2015 Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 Inter Goal: 45' Augustin Paris Saint-Germain: Trapp (64' Douchez), Van der Wiel (46' Marquinhos), Kimpembe, Aurier (75' Maxwell), Kurzawa, Rabiot, Stambouli, Verratti (64' Nkunku), Matuidi (64' Ongenda), Ibrahimovic (64' Lucas), Augustin. Substitutes: Sirigu, Descamps, Thiago Silva, Thiago Motta, Cavani, Di Maria, Lavezzi, Pastore, David Luiz. Head Coach: Blanc

Inter: Handanovic (46' Carrizo), Montoya (46' Nagatomo), D' Ambrosio (83' Gravillon), Ranocchia (64' Popa), Santon (64' Dimarco), Brozovic (64' E. Baldini), Kondogbia (64' Gnoukouri), Perisic (60' Manaj), Ljajic (64' Gyamfi), Biabiany (46' Medel), Jovetic (64' Correia). Substitutes: Berni, Tchaoule, Zonta, Emmers. Head Coach: Mancini

USA, 2016

In Summer 2016, Inter travelled to the US for a tournament that saw prestigious clubs face off against local teams. The Nerazzurri played Salt Lake City and a side from Portland, before competing in the International Champions Cup, where they faced PSG, Estudiantes and Bayern Munich (the tournament then continued into Europe with games against Tottenham and Celtic). The first match of the competition saw Mancini's Inter face PSG in Euguene: the game was played at a low rhythm because of the summer heat in Oregon. The Parisians got in front early through full-back Aurier, but midway through the first half, Inter applied the pressure, mostly through Stevan Jovetic, who was threatening from a free-kick and then from a corner. In first-half stoppage time, it was indeed the Montenegrin who found the equaliser from the spot. And despite Jovetic continuing to threaten in the second period, Inter found themselves behind through Kurzawa's free-kick. Towards the end, Aurier's header then secured his brace, and the win for PSG.

Eugene (USA), 24 July 2016, International Champions Cup game 1 Paris Saint Germain 3-1 Inter Goals: 14' Aurier, 45' Jovetic (pen.), 60' Kurzawa, 87' Aurier Paris Saint Germain: Areola (46' Trapp), Thiago Silva (72' Meunier), Kimpembe, Stambouli (83' Georgen), Lucas (81' Di Maria), Maxwell (46' Kurzawa), Aurier, Ben Harfa (72' Pastore), Rabiot, Ikone (72' Nkunku), Callegari (72' Cavani). Substitutes: Edouard. Head Coach: Unai Emery

Inter: Handanovic (72' Carrizo), D' Ambrosio, J. Miranda, Ranocchia, Erkin (72' Santon), Biabiany (86' Pinamonti), Melo, Kondogbia (77' Zonta), Nagatomo (72' Bakayoko), Palacio, Jovetic. Substitutes: Berni, Di Gregorio, Miangue, F. Della Giovanna, Bessa. Head Coach: Roberto Mancini

MACAO, 2019

There were three years between the game in the US and Inter and PSG's next meeting at the opposite end of the World in China. The Nerazzurri, who had undergone many changes since their last face-off, were fresh off fourth place two years in a row, granting Inter access to a Champions League place for the first time in six years. Even PSG were different to the team they put out in Eugene: alongside their well-established stars, they added Neymar (absent for the game in Macao) and above all Kylian Mbappé to their armoury, who wasn't even 21 at the time, but already a phenomenon in world football. The sides met in the International Super Cup at the Macau Taipa Olympic Sports Centre. It was Inter's last game in Asia having already faced Manchester United in Singapore (1-0 loss) and Juventus in Nanjing (defeat on penalites). In Macao, two familiar faces made their first ever appearances: Nicolò Barella and Alessandro Bastoni. Inter were on the front foot and came close to scoring through Brozovic and Esposito, with Areola making a good save to deny Diallo's possible own-goal. Despite Inter's good performance, PSG got the opener through Kehrer, who headed home from Mbappé's free-kick. After the break, Inter pushed for an equaliser, which then came through Samuele Longo, who beat Areola from Gagliardini's assist. The Nerazzurri's win eventually came from the penalty shootout: Handanovic saved Aouchiche and Zagre's penalties, with Joao Mario scoring the winning spot-kick to secure Inter the win.

Macao (China), 27 July 2019 - International Super Cup Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Inter ( 6-7 pens.) Goals: 41' Kherer, 90+4' Longo Penalty shootout breakdown: Cavani (goal), Ranocchia (goal), Jese (goal), Gagliardini (goal) Diallo (goal), Colidio (goal), Aouchiche (saved), Agoumè (goal), Hemans (goal), Candreva (crossbar), Mbe Soh (goal), Longo (goal), Zagre (saved), Joao Mario (goal)

PSG: Areola, Bernat (75' Hemans), Kehrer (75' Bakker), Diallo, Kurzawa (75' Zagre), Meunier (75' Mbe Soh), Sarabia (75' Jese), Verratti (75' Kouassi), Herrera (75' Aouchiche), Draxler (75' Dagba), Mbappe (75' Cavani). Substitutes: Trapp, Bulka, Innocent, Guclu, Nsoki, Toufiqui. Head Coach: Thomas Tuchel

Inter: Handanovic, Skriniar (81' Pirola), De Vrij (66' Godin), Bastoni (66' Longo), D'Ambrosio (89' Agoumè), Barella (81' Joao Mario), Brozovic (66' Borja Valero), Sensi (66' Gagliardini), Dalbert (66' Ranocchia), Perisic (81' Colidio), Esposito (66' Candreva). Substitutes: Padelli, Berni, Ntube, Vergani. Head Coach: Antonio Conte

TOKYO, 2023

In Summer 2023, the Nerazzurri's season began with a tournament in Japan. Inter's Japan Tour saw Simone Inzaghi's boys play friendlies against two prestigious sides: first the Nerazzurri faced Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr in Osaka (1-1 draw, Frattesi scored), before then going to Tokyo to face Luis Enrique's Paris Saint-Germain. They were the first outings of our side that then went onto win our second Golden Star. PSG were full of talent, despite Mbappé's absence and Neymar's 90 minutes on the bench. The Parisians started strong: Asensio hit the post in the 14th minute, before Inter then began growing into the game. After the break, the tempo slowed down a little: in the 64th minute, Vitinha got PSG in front with a great strike that crept in under the bar. In the 79th minute, the Nerazzurri got close to an equaliser with Cuadrado's great effort, but Donnarumma was equal to it. Two minutes later, the Colombian laid it down to Frattesi, who set up Esposito: the forward finished across the keeper, putting us back in it. Another two minutes passed and Inter took the lead with Sensi scoring from Frattesi's second assist. The win closed Inter's Japan Tour, and it was our first victory over the Parisians in 90 minutes in our history.

PSG 1-2 INTER - 1 August 2023 Scorers: 64' Vitinha (P), 81' Esposito (I), 83' Sensi (I)

INTER (3-5-2): 35 F. Stankovic; 36 Darmian, 15 Acerbi (31 Bisseck 71'), 95 Bastoni (6 De Vrij 68'); 2 Dumfries (17 Cuadrado 55'), 23 Barella (5 Sensi 77'), 20 Calhanoglu (21 Asllani 68'), 22 Mkhitaryan (16 Frattesi 55'), 32 Dimarco (8 Gosens 55'); 9 Thuram (11 Correa 55'), 10 Lautaro (30 Esposito 77'). Substitutes: 12 Di Gennaro, 40 Calligaris, 14 Fabbian, 19 Lazaro, 44 Stabile, 50 A. Stankovic. Head Coach: Simone Inzaghi.

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (4-3-3): 99 Donnarumma; 2 Hakimi, 5 Marquinhos (15 Danilo Pereira 70'), 37 Skriniar, 21 Hernandez (32 Kurzawa 65'); 17 Vitinha, 4 Ugarte (35 Gharbi 80'), 33 Zaire-Emery; 8 Fabian Ruiz (27 Ndour 70'), 11 Asensio (44 Ekitike 70'), 28 Soler. Substitutes: 1 Navas, 50 Mouquet, 3 Kimpembe, 6 Verratti, 10 Neymar, 14 Bernat, 18 Sanches, 19 Kang-In, 36 Nhaga, 38 E. Mbappe, 39 Housni, 43 Lemina. Head Coach: Luis Enrique.