UEFA Champions League Final Preview – Manchester City vs Inter Milan

Manchester City take on Inter Milan in the battle for European supremacy on Saturday night at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul as the two sides meet in the final of the 2023 UEFA Champions League. After winning the Premier League and FA Cup, Pep Guardiola’s juggernaut will look to win Europe’s top prize for the first time and complete a historic treble.

Inter, on the other hand, will be aiming for their fourth Champions League crown, and first since 2010, as they hope to restore their name amongst Europe’s elite. However, the odds are heavily stacked against the Italian outfit as they face a Manchester City side that have dominated domestically and in Europe since the turn of the year.

After topping their group, the Cityzens swept aside RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich, and defending champions Real Madrid by an aggregate scoreline of 17-3 in the knockout stages and will be the major favourites going into Saturday’s final in the first meeting between the two sides.

The Nerazzurri, meanwhile, had a more straightforward route to the final, edging past Portuguese sides Porto and Benfica in the first two knockout rounds before sweeping aside local rivals AC Milan in the semi-finals. Simone Inzaghi’s side, though, head to the final on the back of a spectacular run of recent form, winning 11 of their last 12 games across all competitions.

Battle to watch out for: Erling Haaland vs Inter’s back 3

All eyes will be on Erling Haaland on Saturday in Istanbul as the Norwegian sensation looks to end his record-breaking season on a high by winning his maiden European title. Haaland is the current top-scorer in the Champions League with 12 goals and has added an extra dimension to City’s dynamics this season with his pace, freakish athleticism and gravity in front of goal.

Haaland has been nigh-on impossible to stop at times this season, netting 52 times in 52 appearances, and Inter’s centre-backs, Matteo Darmian, Francesco Acerbi, and Alessandro Bastoni, will need to work collectively on Saturday to keep the Norwegian quiet and give the Italian side a shot at coming out on top.

Team News

Pep Guardiola is likely to go with the same XI that beat Manchester United in the FA Cup Final last weekend, with Nathan Ake replacing Manuel Akanji at left-back as the only likely change.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan faces a late fitness test for Inter, while Joaquin Correa may be ruled out of the final after picking up a calf injury in Inter’s Coppa Italia Final victory over Fiorentina last Saturday.

Probable XI’s

Manchester City (4-3-3): Ederson, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, Rodri, Kevin de Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Jack Grealish, Erling Haaland

Inter Milan (3-5-2): Andre Onana, Matteo Darmian, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni, Denzel Dumfries, Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Marcel Brozovic, Federico Dimarco, Edin Dzeko, Lautaro Martinez

Writer’s Predictions

First goal-scorer: Erling Haaland

Winner: Manchester City

Scoreline: 3-1