Man City vs Inter Milan LIVE: Champions League final result and reaction after City seal historic treble
Man City 1-0 Inter Milan: Rodri’s second-half strike saw Pep Guardiola’s City win a nervy game and complete a historic treble
Rodri fired the winning goal as Manchester City finally claimed Champions League glory and completed the treble with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Inter Milan.
The midfielder rifled home in the 68th minute as the Premier League winners City wore down the Italians in a draining final at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul.
The contest was a tight one, with City suffering a serious blow in pursuit of the prize that has eluded them for so long when they lost Kevin De Bruyne to injury in the first half. The prolific Erling Haaland was also kept quiet by a stubborn Inter side but Rodri eventually made the breakthrough with a firm strike after a Bernardo Silva pass was deflected into his path.
It capped a momentous season for City having also won the FA Cup as well as a fifth Premier League title in six years. Their success means they also join rivals Manchester United as the only side to have won all three of those trophies in the same season. It meant mission accomplished for owner Sheikh Mansour, who was present in Istanbul at only his second match since purchasing the club in 2008 and subsequently propelling them to the game’s top table. Manager Pep Guardiola could also celebrate Champions League success again 12 years after the second of his two wins as Barcelona boss.
Relive the Champions League final below:
32’ - Man City 0-0 Inter
De Bruyne not moving as freely as you’d hope but he’s trying to run it off. City will do everything they can not to sub him off. Foden still ready to come on if needed, fully stripped and ready to go.
29’ - Man City 0-0 Inter
City stepping it up now. De Bruyne shoots from outside the box but it’s straight at Onana. Shortly after, Grealish cuts in from the left but his shot is too weak to properly trouble the Inter goalkeeper.
But this is bad news, De Bruyne down on his haunches and looks uncomfortable. Not sure what’s wrong with him but it would be a huge blow if he had to go off early in another Champions League final. He’ll play on for now, although Foden ready to come on if necessary
27’ - Man City 0-0 Inter
SAVE! The biggest chance of the match for either side and it comes from City! Nice play by Rodri, then De Bruyne slips the ball the charging Haaland who is going away from goal on the left but swings his left boot at it.
Onana stays big and makes the save from close range! But it shows what City can do.
26’ - Man City 0-0 Inter
CHANCE! I tell you what, Ederson looks a bit nervy so far... He plays an errant pass out beyond Stones straight to Barella and he’s well out of his goal.
Barella is about 35 yards out, towards the right of the pitch so although it’s an ‘open goal’ it’s far from easy. His shots is skewed a long way wide but it was on.
25’ - Man City 0-0 Inter
A couple of early puzzles to solve for Pep. But will Inter be able to keep up this level of intensity and pressing for 90 minutes? It feels doubtful. We’ll see.
Nice link-up between Haaland and De Bruyne but the Belgian slips as he tries to take the ball into the box
22’ - Man City 0-0 Inter
A promising start by Inter, who have closed down and hassled City well
20’ - Man City 0-0 Inter
CHANCE! Dimarco is involved again as he nicks the ball away and surges down the left. He finds Brozovic in-field and the Inter captain takes aim at goal but fires a long way over the top. Another warning shot for the favourites though
19’ - Man City 0-0 Inter
City try to string together a sustained spell of possession and then play that patented long ball up to Haaland. He wins it and sets Grealish into space on the left but Acerbi defends really well and muscles him off the ball.
Inter defend another attack and counter but it peters out.
15’ - Man City 0-0 Inter
Inter win a corner but the short-corner routine comes to nothing. Dias then defends really well to nick the ball off Martinez on the edge of the box.
This has been a really promising start for the Italian side Simone Inzaghi will be delighted.
13’ - Man City 0-0 Inter
Cesc Fabregas explains City’s set-up so far very neatly. It’s the tactics they’ve been using recently, with John Stones as a hybrid centre-back/No 8
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments