On Saturday at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, the UEFA Champions League will showcase what is perhaps the biggest match of the season thus far as Inter Milan takes on Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City team.
Team Form
Manchester City
With yet another Premier League title and FA Cup victory added to his impressive record in the 2022-23 season, Pep Guardiola’s list of accomplishments at Manchester City seems never-ending.
In the first leg, Vinicius Junior and Kevin De Bruyne displayed moments of individual brilliance, but Carlo Ancelotti’s team was not to be underestimated.
However, in the subsequent match, Manchester City completely dominated the reigning champions, scoring goals through Bernardo Silva (twice), Manuel Akanji, and Julian Alvarez. This resounding victory established them as the clear favorites to overcome their Champions League struggles and triumph in Turkey.
Ilkay Gundogan, known for his exceptional performances towards the end of the season, shone brightly under the Wembley sun. He scored a magnificent opener in a mere 12 seconds, setting the record for the fastest goal ever scored in an FA Cup final.
He followed it up with a spectacular volley in the second half, overshadowing Bruno Fernandes’s penalty and placing Manchester City on the verge of an incredible treble of trophies.
Man City UCL Form: W W D D W
📈 12 games, 0 defeats. #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/szzIxOimMV
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) June 9, 2023
Inter Milan
Despite Inter’s efforts to obstruct Napoli’s pursuit of the Serie A title, their endeavors proved fruitless.
While much of the pre-match discussions revolve around Manchester City’s quest for a treble on the domestic and continental fronts, Simone Inzaghi’s team also has the opportunity to achieve a similar feat of success, particularly in knockout competitions.
After four months since their commanding 3-0 victory over city rivals Milan in the 2022-23 Supercoppa Italiana, Inter replicated the same triumph over their Rossoneri opponents in the Champions League semi-finals.
This time, however, the victory was achieved over 180 minutes instead of 90, showcasing their impressive form and securing a spot in the grandest stage of European football.
Following a convincing 2-0 victory in the first leg, where Inter played as the ‘away’ team at San Siro, they extinguished any faint hopes of a Milan comeback with Lautaro Martinez’s goal in the second leg on May 16. This victory propelled them to their 11th European final in their storied history.
Just eight days later, Inter completed a remarkable double by defeating Fiorentina 2-1 in the showpiece final of the Coppa Italia, adding to their earlier triumph in the Supercoppa Italiana.
Inter Milan UCL Form: D W D W W
Squad Report
Manchester City
Guardiola recently raised a slight concern about Kyle Walker’s back issues, acknowledging that the right-back had been facing some trouble. However, Walker himself has now reassured everyone that there are no significant concerns regarding his fitness.
Inter Milan
In terms of Inter, they unfortunately suffered the loss of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the former Manchester United midfielder, to a thigh injury during the second leg of the semi-final against AC Milan.
However, the Armenian playmaker is making positive progress in his recovery and is determined to regain fitness for the final.
Similar circumstances surround Argentine forward Joaquin Correa, who encountered a calf injury during the Coppa Italia final against Fiorentina. If given medical clearance to travel, the 28-year-old will likely find himself on the substitute bench for the upcoming match.
This time tomorrow ⚽#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/VZuKruluzg
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) June 9, 2023
Manchester City predicted starting lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Dias, Akanji; Stones, Rodri; Silva, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Grealish; Haaland
Inter Milan predicted starting lineup:
Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Mkhitaryan, Calhanoglu, Dimarco; Martinez, Dzeko
Head to Head
The head-to-head record between Manchester City and Inter Milan stands at an even level, with each team winning one game out of the two matches that have been played between them.
In the Pirelli Cup, a few months after Inter’s victory in the 2010 Champions League final, they defeated Manchester City convincingly, scoring three goals without conceding any. However, a year later, City sought retribution with their own 3-0 victory in a friendly match held in Dublin.
Time, Date & Venue
Date: June 10th, Saturday
Time: 08:00 pm, UK Time
Venue: Ataturk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul
Prediction
Manchester City is widely regarded as one of the best teams in world football presently, boasting an exceptional squad. Their dominance in recent years has solidified their reputation as a formidable force.
Inter Milan, on the other hand, have shown commendable determination in reaching the final and will need to display their resilience to have a chance in this match.
While Manchester City may have the advantage on paper and are considered the stronger team, Inter Milan will need to bring their best performance and showcase their strengths to compete against Manchester City.
