The stage is set for the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League final. On Saturday, June 10, Manchester City and Inter Milan will battle it out for the trophy at Istanbul’s Ataturk Olympic Stadium.
The English giants head into the showpiece as overwhelming favourites, leaving the Italian outfit as clear underdogs. However, both sides have come through testing campaigns to reach the final.
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) June 6, 2023
With the biggest game in European club football just days away, it’s time to take a closer look at how Man City and Inter reached the Champions League final.
Relentless Man City Remain Unbeaten
Manchester City kicked off their Champions League campaign with a 4-0 victory at Sevilla, thanks largely to a brace from Erling Haaland.
Pep Guardiola’s men also got the better of Borussia Dortmund and Copenhagen, taking 14 points from a possible 18 to finish atop Group G.
In the round of 16, Man City notched a dominant 8-1 aggregate win over RB Leipzig, with Haaland scoring five goals in a 7-0 triumph at the Etihad Stadium.
City then dispatched Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals, winning 4-1 on aggregate.
The Cityzens booked their place in the final with a hugely impressive 5-1 aggregate victory over Real Madrid. Following a 1-1 draw in the first leg, Guardiola’s men thrashed the defending champions 4-0 at the Etihad.
Despite failing to score in the semi-finals, Haaland has netted 12 goals in 10 Champions League appearances this season.
City’s squad is littered with world-class players, but Haaland could prove to be the difference in Istanbul.
Inter Survive Group of Death Before Toppling Rivals
When Inter Milan were drawn alongside Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Viktoria Plzen in Group C, many believed that Simone Inzaghi’s men would struggle to reach the knockouts. However, Inter proved their doubters wrong.
After finishing three points clear of third-place Barcelona, the Nerazzurri dispatched two Portuguese sides – FC Porto (1-0) and Benfica (5-3) – to set up a titanic semi-final showdown with arch-vials AC Milan.
Inter won the first leg 2-0, courtesy of early goals from Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, before winning the second leg 1-0, claiming the Milan bragging rights while reaching their first Champions League final since 2009-10.
Dzeko is Inter’s top scorer in the UCL this season, having netted four goals. Meanwhile, Lautaro Martinez has racked up three goals and three assists. It is also worth noting that goalkeeper Andre Onana has kept eight clean sheets in 12 UCL appearances.
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