PREVIEW
Manchester City are just one game away against Inter Milan from achieving an historic treble, as they already clinched the domestic double by winning the Premier League and the FA Cup.
Their final hurdle is facing Inter in the Champions League final, which has been the one trophy that has eluded City since their takeover in 2008. Pep Guardiola, no stranger to this stage, is aiming to win his third Champions League title as a manager, having previously triumphed twice with Barcelona.
Guardiola’s success in the Champions League has made him one of the most decorated managers in the competition’s history. If City emerges victorious, it remains to be seen whether Guardiola will continue as the club’s manager, as he has expressed his desire to respect his contract but also acknowledged that he would like to stay at City regardless of the results.
City enters the final in impressive form, having finished the Premier League season with 12 consecutive victories. They also defeated Manchester United in the FA Cup final at Wembley. Unsurprisingly, they are considered overwhelming favorites for the Champions League final.
Inter, on the other hand, finished third in Serie A and will face a challenging task in overcoming City. Although they finished their season strongly with 11 wins out of 12 games, including a Coppa Italia final triumph, they lost their opening match in the Champions League. They are only the fourth team to reach the final after losing their first match of the season, but history shows that those previous teams all fell short in the final.
The final promises an intriguing clash of styles. City’s possession-based approach sees them recover the ball and initiate their attacks further up the field compared to any other team in this season’s Champions League. In contrast, Inter tend to sit back and rely on counter-attacks, with their shots from such situations ranking among the highest in the competition.
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In terms of team news, City is expected to field their strongest lineup, with no major injury concerns apart from a minor back issue for Kyle Walker. Inter, meanwhile, can likely count on the fitness of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Milan Škriniar, although Joaquín Correa may miss out due to a calf injury.
As the eagerly anticipated final approaches, all eyes will be on Istanbul to witness whether Manchester City can secure their first-ever Champions League title and complete a remarkable treble.
PREVIOUS MEETING
In Saturday’s Champions League final, Manchester City and Inter will face each other for the first time in a competitive match. Their only previous encounter was a pre-season friendly in 2011, where City emerged victorious with a 3-0 win, featuring a goal from Edin Džeko, who is now expected to lead the attack for Inter.
This upcoming final will mark a significant moment in their history as they meet on the grand stage for the first time.
RECENT FORM
Manchester City showed their strength and determination in the FA Cup final, dispelling any concerns over their recent below-par performances in the Premier League. Despite a slight dip in form towards the end of the league season, City had already secured the title with an impressive winning streak and notable victories in the Champions League against RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid.
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Their last three league games were played with a rotated squad, and they returned to full strength for the FA Cup final against Chelsea, showcasing their true potential with a convincing 1-0 win over rivals Manchester United.
Inter Milan, on the other hand, finished their season on a high note, winning 11 out of their final 12 matches in all competitions. Their only setback was a 3-1 defeat to Napoli, which saw them reduced to 10 men early in the game.
Inter’s solid defensive record is worth noting, as they have kept eight clean sheets in 12 Champions League matches this season, including five in the knockout stages. A clean sheet in the final would see them equal the record for the most clean sheets in the knockout stages in a single edition of the tournament.
Both teams have reasons to be confident heading into the final, with City showcasing their dominance throughout the season and Inter’s impressive run of form. It sets the stage for an exciting clash between two formidable sides.
KEY PLAYERS
Man City – Erling Haaland
Among the talented players in Manchester City’s lineup, all eyes will be on Erling Haaland during the Champions League final. With 12 goals in the competition this season, he shares the record for the most goals in a single season for an English club, a feat previously achieved by Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2002-03.
Haaland will be eager to break the record by finding the back of the net against Inter Milan, and the Italian side’s success may hinge on their ability to contain him.
Haaland’s goal drought in the last two Champions League games is highly unusual considering his prolific scoring record. Throughout his career, he has never gone three consecutive matches without finding the net in the competition. If he manages to score in the final, he will become the first Norwegian since Ole Gunnar Solksjaer in 1999 to do so.
Inter Milan boasts a solid defensive record in the tournament, but they will need to be at their absolute best to neutralize Haaland’s threat and minimize his impact on the game. Stopping the Norwegian striker will be crucial to their chances of lifting the trophy.
Inter Milan – Lautaro Martinez
Inter Milan’s top scorer, likely referring to Lautaro Martínez, has proven himself as a big-game player. He finished the season with an impressive tally of 11 goals in his last 13 appearances, with four of those goals coming off the bench. This strong run of form positions him well heading into the Champions League final.
Martínez had already tasted success on the international stage by winning the World Cup with Argentina in December. If he or Manchester City’s Julián Álvarez, who may not see much playing time, feature in both the World Cup and European Cup finals, they would join an exclusive group of players who have achieved this double in the same season.
In the 21st century, only Roberto Carlos (2002 with Brazil and Real Madrid) and Raphaël Varane (2018 with France and Real Madrid) have accomplished this feat.
With Martínez expected to start, this presents a significant opportunity for the Inter forward to add another major trophy to his collection.
PREDICTION
Man City straight win; Others: Over 2.5 goals
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