The Champions League has provided many iconic and significant moments during its illustrious history and, on Saturday, this season’s final has the opportunity to dish up another.
Turkey’s Ataturk Olympic Stadium, venue of Liverpool’s famous triumph over AC Milan in 2005, will host Manchester City and Inter Milan in their first ever competitive meeting.
The Premier League champions go into Saturday’s match not just looking to win Europe’s premier club competition for the first time, but to become the eighth club to complete the European treble of domestic league, domestic cup, and Champions League/European Cup.
Meanwhile, Inter – treble winners in 2010 under Jose Mourinho – will be determined to claim a fourth Champions League title.
One game away from making history. #UCLfinal x @Dan_Draws pic.twitter.com/VFbrBfNE0Y
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) June 8, 2023
For Pep Guardiola, he stands on the cusp of yet more individual history.
The Spaniard is one game away from becoming the first manager to have won the treble with two different clubs, after achieving the feat in 2008/09 with Barcelona, and the third manager to have won three Champions League crowns alongside Zinedine Zidane and Bob Paisley.
For Inter boss Simone Inzaghi, it’ll be his first Champions League final.
Who to watch
The Premier League champions, spearheaded by Erling Haaland, will go into the final as favourites.
The 22-year-old has netted 12 times in ten Champions League appearances this season to go alongside a record breaking 36 Premier League goals.
However, the Norwegian striker hasn’t scored in his last four games (his longest City scoring drought), so will be desperate to contribute in his and his club’s biggest match to date.
City have talent elsewhere also, as Kevin De Bruyne’s tournament high seven assists this season highlights the Belgian’s ability to set up teammates with his devastating range of passing.
Captain İlkay Gündoğan has the knack for scoring big goals in big games with the German’s FA Cup final winning brace against Manchester United last weekend a stark reminder to Inter of his capabilities.
John Stones has been a revelation in his more advanced role this season, Rodri too has had a stellar 12 months and with Ederson likely to return in goal, City will be extremely tough to beat.
With City ranking second for possession (59.8%) in this season’s tournament and Inter averaging just 46.4%, the Italian outfit will have to be disciplined without the ball as an intriguing clash of styles awaits.
Inter won’t fear City though and will look to upset their opponents as Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea did in Porto two years ago.
World Cup winner Lautaro Martinez will be full of confidence having scored 28 goals in all competitions, his best scoring season, whilst former City striker Edin Dzeko brings experience and an ariel threat.
Left wing-back Federico Dimarco’s five Champions League assists this term demonstrates his creative nous and the technically gifted Euro 2020 winning midfielder Nicolò Barella has the potential to cause problems if left free to operate.
Former Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku could feature too and what a story it would be if the Belgian stopped the Sky Blues’ treble charge.
The Road to Turkey
City’s unbeaten run to the final has been built on a series of impressive home victories, winning all six matches at the Etihad this season.
Having topped a group consisting of Europa League winners Sevilla, Borussia Dortmund and F.C. Copenhagen, Guardiola’s side demolished RB Leipzig 8-1 on aggregate in the round of 16, thanks to Haaland scoring five in the 7-0 second leg home thrashing.
Throwing back to @ErlingHaaland's 🖐️ goals in one game against RB Leipzig in the #UCL! ✨#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/eP4G6w8m9z
— Manchester City (@ManCity) June 7, 2023
A dominant 4-1 aggregate victory followed against Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals before City produced a stunning 4-0 semi-final second leg rout of 14-time reigning champions Real Madrid to progress 5-1 overall.
Inter finished second in their group containing Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Viktoria Plzen before seeing off Porto, Benfica, and fierce cross-city rivals AC Milan to book a place in their sixth Champions League/European Cup final.
The Man in Charge
Polish 2022 World Cup final referee Szymon Marciniak will take charge of the game having served as the fourth official in the 2018 final between Liverpool and Real Madrid.
It’ll be the 42-year-old’s ninth game of the tournament (including qualifiers) having already officiated both sides this season (Barcelona 3-3 Inter – Group stage, Porto 0-0 Inter – RO16 2nd leg, City 4-0 Real Madrid – semi-final 2nd leg).
