Herman Edwards said it best almost 23 years ago: “This is what the greatest things about sports is: you play to win the game! HELLO?!?! YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME! You don’t play to just play it….”

While Edwards was referring to American football specifically, the phrase can be applied to all sports. There is a very fine line between playing to win and playing to not lose.

And in the case of the UEFA Champions League Final – the European equivalent of the Super Bowl – the examples of playing to not lose have become alarmingly more common in recent years.

2018 was the last year a Champions League Final saw both teams score in the biggest annual club game on the planet. Since then, all subsequent matches have finished 1-0 or 2-0, although one match in that group doesn’t deserve to be labeled as dull or boring. In 2022, Liverpool created multiple chances only to be bested by Thibaut Courtois. Goalkeepers can have moments of glory in these matches, too, and Courtois was clearly the star of the night in Paris.

But the majority of recent finals tend to see cautious play, with one team eventually taking a lead and the other trying desperately to find an equalizer before time runs out. So can Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain make it a night that fans will remember for the right reasons?

There is reason to think that it will be a proactive game from both teams. Inter was able to overcome tough matchups in the knockout rounds with goals aplenty, including two goals in each of their quarterfinal legs with Bayern Munich and seven over 210 minutes of their epic semifinal with Barcelona. For PSG – in search of its first European Cup triumph – they had to work to oust Liverpool on penalties in the Round of 16, but had greater success finding the net against Aston Villa and Arsenal in later rounds.

Another factor in the entertainment level would be when the opening goal is scored Saturday. Each of the last three finals saw a scoreless scoreline at halftime, with teams happy to play more cautious as the second half progresses. Should either PSG or Inter find the net in the opening 45 – and odds are one team will – that will open the match up for more chances. And don’t count out those who are classified as defenders; Denzel Dumfries & Achraf Hakimi, for instance, have shown a willingness to become impromptu forwards.

It’s been a while since a Champions League Final was regarded as an instant classic. If 2025 is to break that drought, fans can hope it’s due to solid play and a proactive approach; it would make for an appropriate end to an eventful season.