Explore the thrilling moments of the 2023 UEFA Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan. From Guardiola’s tactical brilliance to Ederson’s remarkable saves, delve into the dramatic twists that led City to triumph in Istanbul. Witness the intense battle on the field and relive the euphoria of City’s victory against all odds.
Manchester City will be making their way to Copenhagen this week for the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League. Pep Guardiola’s team is determined to hold onto their European title.
Since their debut in the 2011/12 season, City has participated in the Champions League for 13 consecutive seasons. However, they have yet to secure the coveted trophy.
Under Guardiola’s management, their quest for glory has been met with disappointment. They suffered a lackluster defeat to Chelsea in the 2021 final and experienced a remarkable comeback by Real Madrid in the semifinals the following year.
In June of last year, Guardiola and his team faced Inter Milan in their latest attempt to claim the Champions League title, which has eluded them for over a decade.
Let’s take a look at how the Premier League champions triumphed at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, completing a remarkable treble.
Man City and Inter Milan secured their spots in the 2023 UEFA Champions League final through impressive performances in the knockout stages. In Man City’s case, they dominated RB Leipzig with a resounding 7-0 victory in the second leg of their last-16 tie, with Erling Haaland scoring an incredible five goals.
They then faced tough challenges in the quarterfinals and semifinals, defeating Bayern Munich and Real Madrid respectively. Against Bayern Munich, Rodri opened the scoring, and goals from Bernardo Silva and Haaland secured their win. In the semifinals against Real Madrid, Vinicius Jr. and Kevin De Bruyne showcased their skills with fantastic long-range strikes, resulting in a 1-1 draw that confirmed Man City’s progression.
In the subsequent match in Manchester a week later, Madrid suffered a devastating defeat, as Silva’s exceptional performance led to a resounding 4-0 victory with two goals in the first half.
While City’s impressive performances were widely recognized, it was not entirely unexpected for a team of their caliber to reach the final. On the other hand, Inter, led by Simone Inzaghi, took advantage of a favorable draw and surprised everyone.
In the Round of 16, the Nerazzurri narrowly defeated Porto 1-0 on aggregate before triumphing over Benfica in a more dominant fashion.
This set the stage for an epic semifinal clash between Inter and their fierce rivals, AC Milan, at the renowned San Siro stadium. Within the first 11 minutes, Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan propelled Inter to a commanding 2-0 lead, showcasing their prowess in the intense atmosphere.
In the second leg, Inter secured a 1-0 victory, solidifying their place in the final in Istanbul, where their destiny awaits.
What transpired in the 2023 Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan?
In the opening minutes, City displayed their attacking prowess, with Silva attempting a curling shot that narrowly missed the far post. However, Ederson’s wayward clearance to Barella revealed their nervousness. Despite this, Guardiola urged his players to “RELAX!” while seemingly disinterested in his own advice.
Shortly before the half-hour mark, Haaland forced a brilliant save from Andre Onana, who was set to join Manchester United. This opportunity came from a trademark De Bruyne throughball. Unfortunately, it would be De Bruyne’s final contribution to the match as he succumbed to a troublesome hamstring injury.
As the game approached the hour mark, the scoreline remained goalless. City received a fortunate break when Akanji allowed a pass from Silva to reach Ederson, but the goalkeeper was unaware of the situation. With Guardiola collapsing to his knees on the touchline, Ederson made a superb save when faced with Lautaro Martinez.
Disregarding that fright, Akanji and Silva played a significant role in the critical moment of the game in the 68th minute. Akanji, the defender from Switzerland, progressed forward after gaining control from Phil Foden, who substituted De Bruyne, and delivered a pass down the right channel.
Silva’s cross, which was hit low, was redirected towards Rodri’s direction as the Inter defenders were occupied with Haaland, allowing the midfielder to confidently guide the ball into the net. Nevertheless, City’s journey towards the finish line was far from calm.
In the UCL final, Romelu Lukaku was involved in a series of events. After replacing Dzeko, Lukaku unintentionally played a part in City’s goal shortly after Rodri scored.
Dimarco had a chance to score with a header that hit the crossbar, and Lukaku’s attempt to follow up struck him, giving City the opportunity to clear the ball. Later, Foden showcased his skill by getting past Dimarco, but his shot was too close to Onana and missed the chance to bring the house down.
Ederson showcased his exceptional goalkeeping skills during crucial moments in the match. Firstly, he made an incredible save when Lukaku unexpectedly headed the ball from close range, but Ruben Dias cleared it behind. Then, in the final moments of the game, Ederson leapt to make a remarkable stop from Robin Goosens’ near-post header during a right-wing corner.
The ball deflected off Inter captain Marcelo Brozovic, resulting in a goal kick. As the referee, Szymon Marciniak, blew his whistle, City’s players either ecstatically sprinted across the field or collapsed onto the ground, overwhelmed with emotions.
As the ongoing season unfolds, there is an increasing buzz surrounding City’s chances of securing a treble. Nonetheless, Guardiola, ahead of their 2-0 triumph over Everton in the Premier League, emphasized that it is highly unlikely, with a 99.99% certainty, that his team will accomplish this feat once more.
This declaration serves as a way to temper expectations. Nevertheless, it is crucial to recall the fierce challenges City encountered in Istanbul and the narrow escapes they had against Europe’s elite teams in recent times.
