Author: Soorya G
Manchester City, aiming for a third title, will have to beat Simone Inzaghi’s Inter Milan to make history, while Inter Milan will be hoping to win their fourth UEFA Champions League trophy on Sunday in what promises to be a thrilling clash between two top teams. Manchester City are off to their best start this season, cruising to victory in the Premier League after falling eight points behind the league leaders on the last matchday.
City not only managed to overturn the lead but also ended up winning by five points, securing their fifth Premier League title in six years. More recently, City also got the better of local rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium, thanks to veteran Ilkay Gundogan, who scored twice to help his side complete the second of three matches en route to a historic treble.
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Manchester City go into the final with an unbeaten record, having recently won the Premier League and the FA Cup. His dominant displays throughout the season earned him the opportunity to complete a historic treble, a feat last achieved in England in 1999. It was Manchester United who took home the treble in 1999 under the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson. This is exactly what Pep Guardiola would like to emulate in terms of the end result, although the means of achieving the goal are totally different, considering the coaching philosophies of the two great coaches.
Guardiola’s fluid attacking style, combined with his resolute defensive organization, proved to be a nightmare for opponents throughout the season. Guardiola switched to a 3-2-4-1 formation this year, with Rodri and John Stones forming a pivot in midfield. The defensive duo of Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin de Bruyne has been key to the team’s success. Both midfielders had stellar campaigns, with Kevin de Bruyne coming close to breaking his own record for assists in the Premier League, with 16 league assists and 22 in total. He also scored nine goals, while Gundogan contributed 17 goals, most of them during City’s ferocious title-winning campaign at the end of the season, which was crucial.
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On the other hand, Inter Milan’s journey to the final was marked by resilience and determination. Despite a difficult Serie A campaign, in which they finished third, the Italian giants overcame domestic setbacks to make their mark on the European stage. Driven by their relentless pursuit of a fourth Champions League title, the Inter Milan team embodies a perfect blend of experience and youthful exuberance. Players like Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Samir Handanovic and Edin Dzeko showed their class, while youngsters Alessandro Bastoni, Gianluca Dimarco and Nicolo Barella assured Inter fans that the future is in good hands. After a season of successes and failures in the league this year, Simone Inzaghi will be happy to end the campaign on a high by winning the biggest trophy in European soccer.
As the starting whistle approaches, both teams will be keen to leave no stone unturned in their quest for European glory. The prestige and importance of the Champions League trophy will fuel their every move, with the weight of history and the hopes of their passionate fans resting on their shoulders.
Team news
As there aren’t many injury problems in either team, Inzaghi and Guardiola should field full squads for the epic clash.
Expected line-ups:
Manchester City: Ederson; Ake, Dias, Walker; Rodri, Stones; De Bruyne, Gundogan, Silva, Grealish; Haaland;
Inter Milan: Onana; Skriniar, Bastoni, Acerbi; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Dzeko, Martinez;
Key players
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Kevin de Bruyne will be the most important player for Pep Guardiola’s team, for obvious reasons. He has been fantastic this season, as he has been for many years, providing 24 assists as well as a handful of goals. He has appeared on the big stage several times this season and will be eager to add a Champions League to his trophy cabinet.
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Henrikh Mkhitaryan will be an important player for Inter in the final. He brings a wealth of experience to the team and has been influential throughout the season, scoring six goals in the league. His impact goes beyond statistics, and the Armenian is expected to orchestrate Inter’s attack in the final.
Forecasts:
City’s victory
The Cityzens have been almost invincible this season and are expected to complete the triple crown.
Gundogan to shine
The German has been outstanding in what seems to be his last season at the club and, after a standout performance in the FA Cup, he will be looking to keep up the same form in the Champions League.
Barella will do well
The Italian midfielder is one of Italy’s brightest stars and hopes to be at the top of his game on Sunday.