Paris Saint-Germain as the team most likely to lift the trophy this year.
Since Luis Enrique replaced Christophe Galtier as manager in 2023, he has made it clear that reshaping PSG’s identity was a key priority—and the team’s approach has visibly evolved under his leadership at the Parc des Princes.
Once known for its superstar signings and locker-room egos, the French giants are now displaying much more cohesion and tactical discipline than in previous years, even compared to past squads filled with legendary talent.
After overcoming six-time champions Liverpool in the round of 16, PSG were pushed to their limits by Aston Villa in a dramatic quarter-final second leg, where Unai Emery’s team nearly pulled off a stunning comeback.
Despite the scare, PSG held firm and earned their place in the semi-finals, where they’ll face Arsenal, who eliminated reigning champions Real Madrid in dominant fashion.
With neither PSG nor Arsenal having won the Champions League before, their clash is shaping up to be a compelling one. The victor will go on to meet either Barcelona or Inter Milan in the final in Munich.
While Figo sees the final four teams as closely matched in quality, he believes PSG has the edge in the race for Europe’s most prestigious club trophy.
When pushed to name his favourites to win the Champions League, the 2000 Ballon d’Or winner replied: ‘In my view, PSG.
‘They have a good consistency of results and excellent physical fitness at the moment.
‘It’s difficult to say for certain, I don’t feel that I can make a really strong prediction on who will win the Champions League.’
Two of Figo’s former teams, Inter Milan and Barcelona, face off in the other semi-final – and the Portuguese icon feels it would be a ‘big mistake’ to downplay the Italian club’s chances.
‘They are two teams with very different styles,’ Figo said while previewing’s Inter’s semi-final clash with Barcelona.
‘However, anyone who thinks that Inter are only about defending is making a big mistake.
‘It’s true Simone Inzaghi’s side are solid in defence and conceded very few Champions League goals, but they also have players capable of making the difference.
‘You need to analyse it more carefully, not just limit yourself to saying they are just a defensive team. ‘Inter could win the treble this season.’
Pressed on whether Barcelona could also be on for a treble, Figo said: ‘Well, it’s a possibility, right?’
If PSG manage to defeat Arsenal, it will mark just the second time in their history that they’ve reached the Champions League final.
The French side made their maiden appearance in the final back in 2020 under the guidance of then-manager Thomas Tuchel. However, they fell short of glory, losing 1-0 to Bayern Munich in Lisbon, with Kingsley Coman netting the decisive goal.
