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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Andrew Gastelum

Manchester City Seals Treble With Champions League Final Win Over Inter Milan

Inter Milan Manchester City UEFA Champions League EPL Istanbul Serie A

Manchester City’s season of glory and dominance ended with a historic treble after a 1–0 victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League final.

Fresh off its fifth Premier League title in six years and last weekend’s FA Cup victory over rival Manchester United, Man City became just the second club to secure the treble in English soccer history, joining Manchester United and its 1999 triumph.

After years of investment and domestic success, City arrived in its first Champions League final in 2021 but lost to Chelsea in a lethargic 1–0 effort. But City returned to the biggest stage in European soccer with a new weapon in 22-year-old forward Erling Haaland, who broke the Premier League single-season goalscoring record with 36 goals in his first season. 

However, it was Rodri who proved to be the hero for Man City with his match-winner in the 68th minute as City held off a furious barrage of Inter shots late in the match to secure the victory. 

In the first five minutes, Man City began as expected with the lion’s share of possession and a few chances. Haaland was called offside on a goal chance just two minutes in, while Bernardo Silva came inches away from the post on a curling shot in the sixth minute that was closer than it appeared. 

Man City goalkeeper Ederson, who had been rested at the end of the Premier League season and did not play in the FA Cup, looked sloppy in the first 15 minutes with a few errant passes. In the 26th minute, the Brazilian sent a wide pass out from the back that found Nicolò Barella, who sent a shot on an empty goal that went just wide.

In the 27th minute, Haaland was played through on goal and fought off a defender before sending a shot on goal. But Inter keeper André Onana was in a good position to push the shot wide with his arm. 

Man City was dealt a major blow when Kevin De Bruyne went down with a hamstring injury midway through the first half. The Premier League assists leader, who was injured in the ’21 final as well, couldn’t shake off the knock and was subbed off in the 36th minute for Phil Foden. 

To end the first half, Manuel Akanji had a golden chance with a clear lane toward goal from distance, but the Swiss defender blasted his shot just over the bar. 

In the 59th minute, Inter Milan had its first major chance of the match when Lautaro Martínez pounced on a defensive error and was inadvertently played through into the box. But from a sharp angle, the Argentine international saw his chance deftly saved by Ederson.

Manchester City finally broke through in the 68th minute courtesy of Rodri’s stunner. The Spanish midfielder waited at the edge of the area as Bernardo Silva’s cross from point-blank range was deflected back into play. Rodri stepped to the chance and blasted it through a line of defenders for the 1–0 lead.

But Inter immediately followed with a great chance of its own. Federico Dimarco looped a header from inside the box over Ederson and goalbound, but the chance hit the post and dropped back down to the left back. Dimarco’s follow-up was then blocked by Romelu Lukaku right in front of goal.  

Inter was knocking at the door once again in the 89th minute with another close call. After a headed pass into the box, Lukaku sent an open header directly at Ederson in a massive missed opportunity for an equalizer. 

Ederson then came up with another massive save in the dying minutes to secure the win as the Man City bench rushed the pitch at the final whistle. 

Here were the lineups for Saturday’s final:

Manchester City XI

Inter Milan XI

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