Manchester City Vs Inter Milan Champions League Final
The biggest night in club football comes down to a clash between English Premier League winners Manchester City and Serie A giants Inter Milan. With a treble in their sights, Pep Guardiola’s men face one of the few clubs in Europe not to have won the Champions League.
Inter are looking for their first European trophy since a takeover, and they have Lautaro Martinez and co to provide an attacking threat. However, they are underdogs to beat City tonight.
Manchester City
After winning the Premier League title and the FA Cup last weekend, Manchester City are one step away from a historic treble. All that stands in their way is a first Champions League crown. Pep Guardiola’s side are heavy favourites for the final in Istanbul but Inter Milan will prove a tough obstacle.
The Italian club haven’t won the Champions League since 2010, and this could be their biggest opportunity to reclaim European football’s top prize. They have been impressive in their run to the final, defeating Bayern Munich and Real Madrid along the way. City, however, have looked imperious so far in the competition and will want to emulate their 1998/99 success at Old Trafford.
A win for City would ensure a fifth major trophy in the space of six seasons, but it won’t be easy. The bookmakers have priced up a 2-0 victory for the reigning champions, who are unbeaten in the competition this season. The Italians have a decent record against City, though, having lost just five of 32 games.
Despite the fact that they have lost their star midfielder Mario Balotelli and defender Stefan de Vrij, Simone Inzaghi will still be able to field a competitive team for this crucial clash. Nicolo Barella, who has been excellent this season, will go head-to-head with City’s top player Kevin de Bruyne, while goalkeeper Andre Onana will be tasked with keeping out free-scoring striker Erling Haaland.
The match will be a sell-out at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, and both teams are likely to have fans supporting them from abroad. One of our reporters out in Istanbul spotted a mother and son with split loyalties – the mum was wearing an Inter shirt and the boy was sporting a Manchester City kit, complete with Haaland’s name on the back.
Manchester City will be hoping that Kyle Walker is fit enough to play in the final after missing training earlier this week with a back injury. However, the left-back was included in a full 23-man squad that has travelled to Turkey and is unlikely to miss out on the biggest game of his career.
Inter Milan
The stage is set for a tense tactical battle between two top teams when Manchester City and Inter Milan meet in the Champions League final in Istanbul on Saturday. Manchester City are heavy favourites to win the game, but they face a stiff challenge from the Italian club. Inter have won the last two Italian Cups, and they are also looking to win their first Champions League title since 2010.
The deciding factor in the match may come down to how well the teams play each other’s strengths. Manchester City’s top players will be looking to shut down Inter’s attack, but the Italian team has plenty of threats of their own. They are led by strikers Erling Haaland and Lautaro Martinez, who both have the ability to find the back of the net.
Inter’s defence is also a big threat. They are one of the best in Serie A at keeping clean sheets and will be looking to use their strength on the counterattack. Their goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is a huge presence and will be hard to beat. The defenders are strong and experienced and can hold their own against the likes of Bernardo Silva and Kevin de Bruyne.
While Manchester City have the better squad, the match is still likely to be close. It could be decided by a single goal or an error in the other box, and that is why the oddsmakers have placed a low Over/Under 2.5 goals line.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 8pm BST at the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul. It will be televised on BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Ultimate, and can also be streamed for free on the BT Sport app and desktop site.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is aiming for an historic treble, but his side must defeat Inter Milan in order to do so. The Spaniard has a solid record in major European competitions, but he must avoid any slip ups in the final. Inter boss Giuseppe Marotta has rebuilt the club since his arrival in 2018, and he believes that his team is capable of winning Europe’s most prestigious trophy.
Predictions
It is hard to imagine that anyone will be able to stop Manchester City from winning their first Champions League title since the club’s big-money takeover in 2008. The champions of England look set to add another piece of silverware to their cabinet after their 2-0 win over cross-town rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final. City’s defence looked resolute in the second leg and they are well priced at 4/9 with Betfred to beat Inter Milan in their first competitive meeting.
The other interesting thing about this final is that it will be the first ever final between two English clubs. That will have a big impact on the game and the crowd, and it could be a factor in the result. It is unlikely that either team will be able to play expansive football, so there aren’t too many goals to expect, but it will still be an entertaining affair.
City have dominated the competition and it is easy to see why they are the overwhelming favourites. They have blown away the teams they’ve faced, including the 14-times champions Real Madrid, and their defensive record is excellent.
Inter have a good side and they will try to disrupt City’s possession with some physicality and their pressing game. Simone Inzaghi’s forward options of Lautaro Martinez and Edin Dzeko will keep City’s defenders busy and their speed will be difficult to deal with.
It will be a challenge for the City defence to stop these two players but they have a good backline and should be able to cope with what Inter throw at them. The only worry might be the fitness of Kyle Walker, who has been struggling with his back recently but appears to have recovered from the injury that forced him off against Manchester United in the FA Cup final.
The deciding factor in this final might be whether or not City can score early – 13 seconds to be precise! If they can do that and then continue to dominate the game, it will be a long night for Inter.
Betting
Manchester City and Inter Milan meet for the first time in a competitive European final at the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul. It is a blockbuster matchup that sees two continental giants clash with the winner adding an extra piece of silverware to their trophy cabinet. Manchester City have already added the Premier League and FA Cup to their haul this season, while Inter are hoping to win their first Champions League title since 2010.
Pep Guardiola’s team are red-hot favourites for Saturday’s game after hammering Real Madrid over two legs in their semi-final victory. The Cityzens have a strong squad that can cause problems for Inter and the Citizens are unbeaten in 12 Champions League fixtures.
It’s important to remember that both teams are in good form and it will be a hard-fought match. Both sides are capable of scoring goals and a high-scoring draw is priced at 7/2 with Betfred. There are also odds of 8/1 that this match ends in a penalty shootout.
If you are looking for a safe bet to cover multiple scenarios, the moneyline is a great option. Man City are a general 1/5 shot to lift the trophy, while their odds of winning in 90 minutes stand at 4/9. Inter are priced at -500 on Caesars and FanDuel to win the final, but they have won five of their last 32 cup games under Simone Inzaghi.
You can find all of the betting lines and best bets for this matchup by visiting SportsLine. SportsLine’s renowned soccer expert Jon “Buckets” Eimer has broken this matchup down from every angle and is leaning under on the goal total and has two other confident best bets, including one that would pay plus-money. Check out all of his picks and analysis at SportsLine now. It’s the only place to get the best football betting odds for the UEFA Champions League final. You won’t regret it. It’s the most important bet of the year. Bet now!
