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Manchester City complete famous treble by beating Inter Milan in European Cup final

sportsmole.co.uk, 10 June 2023, 20:55
Manchester City have become treble winners for the 2022-23 campaign courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Inter Milan in the final of the Champions League on Saturday night.

Rodri's 68th-minute goal proved to be the difference between the two sides in Istanbul, with the Citizens making it three trophies for the season, having also won the Premier League and FA Cup.

Man City have become just the eighth European club to win a continental treble and the first English side since Manchester United's famous success in 1999, and it is also a first Champions League title for the club, who have cemented their position as the best team in European football.

Inter, who last won the European Cup in 2010, more than held their own during a cagey game and had chances to level late on; Simone Inzaghi's side ultimately fell just short, but a successful season has seen them claim the Italian Super Cup and Coppa Italia, in addition to a third-place finish in the Serie A table.

Kyle Walker's absence from the Man City starting XI was the main story in terms of team news from both sides, with fit-again Nathan Ake preferred to the England international.

Erling Braut Haaland had a sight of the Inter goal inside the opening three minutes, but the Norway international fired over from a narrow angle, and the offside flag was raised shortly after.

Man City came incredibly close to making the breakthrough in the fifth minute when Bernardo Silva worked space inside the Inter box before looking to curl one into the top corner, but the ball just moved narrowly wide of the far post, with Inter given a couple of warnings in the early exchanges.

The Italians threatened in the 10th minute when Federico Dimarco delivered a dangerous cross into the Man City box, with Edin Dzeko looking to attack the ball, but Ruben Dias produced an excellent headed clearance.

Marcelo Brozovic sent one over the Man City crossbar in the 21st minute after smart work from Lautaro Martinez in an advanced area, with Inter working their way into the match in impressive fashion after giving up a lot of possession in the early exchanges.

A mistake from Man City goalkeeper Ederson, who misplaced a pass, then presented Nicolo Barella with a shooting chance in the 26th minute, but the Inter midfielder missed the target, and it would have taken something special to score from what was a difficult angle.

The first serious chance of the match came for the Premier League champions in the 27th minute, with Haaland bursting into the penalty box before striking towards goal, but Andre Onana was on hand to make a smart save, with the Inter goalkeeper standing tall to block the ball.

Onana then kept out a long-range effort from Kevin De Bruyne, with Man City just starting to raise the tempo after a strong period for Inter had given the Coppa Italia champions encouragement.

Guardiola's side were forced into a change in the 36th minute of the match, with De Bruyne, who limped off with a hamstring issue, replaced by Phil Foden; De Bruyne had attempted to overcome the problem but was ultimately unsuccessful, which led to the first alteration of the final.

Man City had more of the ball in the latter stages of the first period, but clear openings were hard to find, with Manuel Akanji firing the best chance over the crossbar from distance in stoppage time, and Inter would have been pleased with their opening 45 minutes of action in Istanbul.

The referee was letting the match flow in the early stages of the second half despite some questionable challenges, with Inter showing their frustration, but the Italians were still comfortable in general play, with Man City finding it difficult to get into their rhythm.

Hakan Calhanoglu had a fierce shot blocked outside the Man City box in the 55th minute, before Inter were forced into a change of their own, with the injured Dzeko being replaced by Romelu Lukaku.

Inter had a chance to take the lead in the 59th minute when a mistake from Ederson, who failed to read a pass from Akanji, presented Martinez with a shooting chance, but the Argentine could not find a route past the Brazilian goalkeeper.

Dias then headed a short free kick over the crossbar down the other end, with the two teams still level heading into the final 30 minutes of normal time.

Man City made the breakthrough in the 68th minute of the contest, though, with Rodri rattling one into the back of the net after the ball had broken for the Spaniard just inside the penalty box.

The Citizens were asking for a penalty when the ball rolled to Rodri, and he made no mistake, with Inter's hopes of forcing extra-time through a goalless draw coming to an end.

The Serie A giants had a golden chance to level shortly after, with Dimarco hitting the crossbar with a looping header before the Italian's second effort crashed into the back of his own teammate Lukaku, with Man City given a huge let-off shortly after taking the lead.

Lukaku tested Ederson with a low drive in the 73rd minute, before Onana kept out a strike from Foden in the 78th minute after the England international had broken into the box.

Ederson made a smart save in the 88th minute to keep out a point-blank header from Lukaku, who looked certain to be levelling the scores when he was found by fellow substitute Robin Gosens.

The pressure from Inter continued into the latter stages, with Barella firing wide in stoppage time and Dimarco bringing another flying save from Ederson, but it just was not to be for Inzaghi's side, who fell just short on the night.

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