Final soccer Champions League in Istanbul: Manchester City – Inter Milan, June 10, 2023. Manchester City soccer players are celebrating the victory in the Champions League.
Istanbul – Manchester City footballers won the Champions League for the first time. In the final in Istanbul, they beat Inter Milan 1-0 with a goal from Rodri in the 68th minute. Coach Pep Guardiola's favored wards completed the so-called treble after triumphs in the English league and the English Cup this season. City became the eighth European club in history to do so and the first since Bayern Munich in 2020.
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Photo gallery: Football Champions League 2022/23
< img class="aligncenter" src="/wp-content/uploads/23a69f1ebd915777a3b4c297e11244d0.jpg" alt="Manchester City beat Inter 1-0 to win the Champions League for the first time" />
The Spaniard Guardiola became the fourth coach to win the Champions League for the third time. He followed up on wins with Barcelona in 2011 and 2009, when he also led the Catalans to the treble. No other coach before him had done it with two different clubs. Inter did not take advantage of the chance for a fourth victory in the Champions League.
“Unbelievable, I'm at a loss for words. It was an even game, we're happy to win. We know everyone was talking about the treble. We were under pressure, but this team is built to handle pressure in the best possible way,” said the captain and City midfielder Ilkay Gündogan in a TV interview.
City's players looked nervous and made frequent mistakes at the start at the Atatürk Stadium, but still had more chances. Bernardo Silva misses the goal, Haaland's shot from an angle is saved by Onan. The Inter goalkeeper, who has kept eight clean sheets out of twelve matches in this year's Champions League, also dealt with De Bruyne's attempt.
The key Belgian midfielder had to be substituted in the 36th minute due to a muscle injury. Due to health reasons, De Bruyne did not even finish the Champions League final two years ago, in which City lost 0-1 to Chelsea. “It was difficult for both teams. In the first half we didn't perform at our best, we were tied. We knew we had to improve in the second half,” Gündogan pointed out.
After the change of sides, the picture of the game did not change much and the English team unsuccessfully conquered the solid defense of the “Nerazzurri”, who defeated Pilsen twice in the autumn group. Inter could have opened the scoring in the 58th minute after a big mistake by Akanji, but Martínez couldn't beat goalkeeper Ederson from close range.
Manchester City decided the final in the 68th minute. A free Rodri got to the rebound in the penalty area and the Spanish midfielder finished with a precise shot against the post.
The third team of the last season of the Italian league could soon equalize. However, Dimarco headed into the crossbar and hit substitute teammate Lukaku off the crossbar. Another substitute, Foden, didn't add to City's insurance either, as he let Onana stand out face-to-face.
In the end, Inter created pressure and reached for an equaliser. But Ederson famously eliminated Lukaku's header from close range in the 89th minute. At the end of the setup, the Brazilian goalkeeper caught substitute Gosense. City did not lose even in the thirteenth game of this year's Champions League.
“It's a dream come true. All our fans have waited so long, they deserve it as much as we do. We've been close in recent years. It wasn't easy today. The opponent had an excellent defense and counter-attack. We left everything on the pitch,” said Rodri.< /p>
Inter, as the third Italian team this season, did not make it to the cup final. AS Rome lost to Sevilla in the European League, Fiorentina was not enough against West Ham in the European Conference League in Prague.
Manchester City – Inter Milan 1:0 (0:0)
Goals: 68 .Rodri. Referee: Marciniak – Sokolnicki, Listkiewicz – Kwiatkowski (video, all Polish). ŽK: Haaland, Ederson – Barella, Lukaku, Onana, Inzaghi (coach). Spectators: 71,412.
Lineups:
Manchester City: Ederson – Akanji, Rúben Dias, Aké – Stones (82. Walker), Rodri – Bernardo Silva , De Bruyne (36. Foden), Gündogan, Grealish – Haaland. Coach: Guardiola.
Inter: Onana – Darmian (84. D'Ambrosio), Acerbi, Bastoni (76. Gosens) – Dumfries (76. Bellanova), Barella, Brozovič , Calhanoglu (84. Mkhitaryan), Dimarco – Martínez, Džeko (57. Lukaku). Coach: Inzaghi.
