The two powerhouse teams will meet for the first time in a competitive match at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium. Manchester City, having secured two English football trophies, dominated the defending champions Real Madrid in the semi-finals, winning 5-1 on aggregate. On the other hand, Inter Milan claimed victory over their city rivals AC Milan with a 3-0 aggregate scoreline in the local derby.
Pep Guardiola, Manchester City's manager, has a remarkable record in domestic competitions, but he has yet to win the Champions League since leaving Barcelona. Previously, he had only reached the quarter-finals with Manchester City. However, this season has been different, and the team's performance has been outstanding, especially in the knockout stages.
Inter Milan, led by coach Simone Inzaghi, has been in excellent form, winning 11 of their last 12 matches across all competitions. They have shown a strong defensive record, keeping five clean sheets in six Champions League knockout matches.
Both teams will be highly motivated to claim the prestigious trophy, but Manchester City are considered the favorites due to their dominant performances and their pursuit of a historic treble. Inter Milan, with their talented strikeforce of Lautaro Martinez and Edin Dzeko, will look to challenge Manchester City's defense and aim for their seventh continental title.
It will be an exciting clash between two top teams, and Inter Milan will be hoping to avoid joining the list of teams that reached the final but ended up as runners-up. To achieve this, they need to find a way to overcome Manchester City's European prowess and prolong their opponents' wait for Champions League glory.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
The medical team at Manchester City has had a relatively quiet time leading up to the final on Saturday. There were some concerns about Kyle Walker's back, but he has reassured everyone that he is fit and ready to play. The team is expected to have a fully fit squad for the final.The starting lineup for Manchester City is likely to be the same as the one that defeated Real Madrid in the second leg and played in the FA Cup final. The only change will be in goal, with Ederson replacing Stefan Ortega.
This game could potentially be Ilkay Gundogan's farewell to Manchester City, as he has not yet agreed on a new contract. The 32-year-old midfielder will captain the team, 10 years after falling short in the 2012-13 Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund.
Erling Braut Haaland has been in exceptional form, and scoring another goal in the final would make it his 13th in the 2022-23 Champions League. This would surpass Ruud van Nistelrooy's record for the most goals in a single season by an English team. Haaland has never gone three consecutive games without scoring in this prestigious tournament.
Inter Milan has had some injury concerns, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Joaquin Correa both working to be fit for the final. Mkhitaryan suffered a thigh injury in the semi-final, while Correa had a calf issue in the Coppa Italia final. Both players are expected to be available, although they may start on the bench.
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi has preferred Lautaro Martinez and Edin Dzeko as his strike pairing in crucial matches. Romelu Lukaku, who is on loan from Chelsea, may provide an impact off the bench. Mkhitaryan could replace Marcelo Brozovic in the starting lineup if he proves his fitness.
Left-wing back Federico Dimarco, who missed the last Serie A match due to muscular fatigue, is expected to start in the final. His battle with Kyle Walker on the flank promises to be an exciting contest.
Defenders Milan Skriniar and Stefan de Vrij, who played crucial roles in Inter's Scudetto-winning campaign in 2020-21, are likely to start on the bench. Alessandro Bastoni, Matteo Darmian, and Francesco Acerbi are expected to form the defensive line in front of goalkeeper Andre Onana, who is one clean sheet away from matching Edouard Mendy's record from the previous season.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Manchester City possible starting lineup:Ederson; Walker, Dias, Akanji; Stones, Rodri; Silva, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Grealish; Haaland
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Mkhitaryan, Calhanoglu, Dimarco; Martinez, Dzeko
EXPERT PREDICTION
Manchester City 3-2 Inter Milan
Inter's counter-attacks have proven to be devastating in the past, and their recent impressive form in front of goal adds to their chances of breaking through Manchester City's defense. However, containing Guardiola's formidable attacking lineup will be a significant challenge for the Nerazzurri.
While Inter has showcased defensive solidity in European competitions previously, Manchester City possesses the attacking firepower required to finally establish themselves as European football elites and join their local rivals, Manchester United, in the exclusive club of treble winners.
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