Manchester City 1-0 Inter Milan
It was the moment of truth for Manchester City.
The chance to make history, to win the ultimate in the club game, ‘The Treble’, and secure their first ever European Cup/Champions League.
Standing in their way were the Italians of Inter Milan. Big underdogs with virtually every media organisation, including the SBOTOP Champions League betting odds, and a side said to be a distinct class below the light blue of Manchester.
But would this clash in the capital of Turkey go to form or was there to be one final twist in the compelling season we have witnessed?
Highlights of the game
City made two changes from the FA Cup Final a week ago, one expected and one not so much.
Ederson replaced Stefan Ortega between the sticks, but Kyle Walker dropped to the bench with Nathan Ake taking his place.
Inter lined up as expected with the main call going the way of former City frontman Edin Dzeko who was handed a starting berth ahead of Romelu Lukaku.
The former Man Utd Belgian joined another former United man, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, alongside Joaquin Correa and Milan Skriniar on the bench – the latter trio all returning from injury.
The fifth ever European Cup/Champions League Final contested between English and Italian sides, anyone who watched City’s dismantling of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively knew they had already faced tougher opposition than should have awaited them in the showpiece.
Yet Inter, who finished third in Serie A and reached this stage after knockout victories over FC Porto, Benfica and city rivals AC Milan – generally a much lower calibre of opponent than City faced en route – insisted they weren’t here to make up the numbers.
Goalkeeper Andre Onana said as much when he conceded that City are ‘the strongest team in the world,’ but that Inter would aim to win if they ‘play without fear.’
Champions League highlights were expected.
This was so important even City’s owner Sheikh Mansour, the man who masterminded the billions of investment since 2008 which has helped turn City into such a dominant force, was in attendance – only his second match watching his team since 2010.
City had the first sight of goal as early as the sixth minute when Bernardo Silva, such an influence in both previous rounds, fired a shot wide.
Double English footballer of the year, 53-goal Erling Haaland, was next just before the half hour mark but Onana was able to repel his effort.
The sight of seeing City’s midfield maestro Kevin de Bruyne leave the pitch shortly afterwards with a suspected hamstring injury was sad indeed and a body blow, although their own young sublime talent Phil Foden highlighted the strength in depth of the English champions.
Into the second half and it wasn’t too long before Lukaku replaced Dzeko as my feeling grew that it may take just one goal to separate the sides as City bossed possession but Inter held firm.
Then came the key moment midway through the half as the Spanish midfielder, Rodri, expertly passed the ball into the bottom corner following a cutback from Silva.
Inter’s defence, which had kept eight clean sheets in 12 Champions League matches this season, including five in six knockout games, had disappeared at a crucial juncture and City were on the verge of history.
The Italians were almost level immediately but Federico Dimarco’s looping header beat Ederson but not the crossbar before the same player headed the rebound off Lukaku’s leg.
A goal behind, the spirited I Nerazzurri had to attack more now, something which was likely to suit City and Foden had a chance to make sure of victory but shot straight at Onana.
Could they do it when it mattered most or was this to be a third successive disappointing European final night for Italian football after Roma were beaten by Sevilla in the Europa League and West Ham defeated Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League.
The answer was no as City had too much quality as expected, although how Lukaku failed to score when he headed straight at Ederson from point blank range will haunt him for some time.
History has been made and Manchester City, just as their neighbours did 24 years ago, can now also be called the greatest team English football has ever produced.
Key statistics
Rodri is the 19th different Spanish player to score in a European Cup final. No country has had more final goalscorers.
This was the first ever competitive meeting between City and Inter. It was also the first time two teams have met for the first ever time in a final since 2005. On that occasion AC Milan played Liverpool, also at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul.
This was Inter’s 11th major European final. Only Juventus (16) and AC Milan (14) have a better record among Italian clubs.
This was City’s third European final. They defeated Polish side Gprnik Zabrze 2-1 in the 1970 Cup Winners’ Cup final, before losing the 2021 Champions League showpiece 1-0 to Chelsea.
What’s next?
And that’s a 2022-23 wrap!
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