Champions League Final Predictions: Man City out to complete the treble at Inter’s expense

Joe Crann

9 June 2023

It’s time for the big one - the most important game of the European football calendar - and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are just 90 minutes away from potentially creating history.

Since the Spanish manager arrived in Manchester in 2016, the Champions League has been the one tournament that has eluded the almost all-conquering Citizens. They have won two FA Cups, four League Cups, five Premier League titles and a couple of Community Shields, but this trophy has continually escaped them.

There is a good chance that drought will end on Saturday as they face an Internazionale side that has been labelled as the biggest underdog in a Champions League final for years. Football expert Joe Crann is on hand to break down Saturday’s match-up.

City’s frightening form

Both of these clubs breezed into the final as they readily saw off their respective opponents in the final four, but City’s dominance over Real Madrid in the second leg of their semi-final is almost unheard of.

Their 5-1 hammering of the most successful club in European competitions was breathtaking and, although Inter impressively saw off bitter rivals AC Milan with a 3-0 aggregate victory, it doesn’t really compare.

Pep Guardiola: looking to secure a famous treble for Manchester City

City’s authoritative semi-final victory plays a large part in why they are available at such a short price (1.51 in normal time, 1.26 to lift the trophy) to win on Saturday. Add to that their almost immaculate record - just one defeat since the start of February, which came on the final day of the season when Guardiola fielded a weakened side - and their confidence is sky high.

Their most recent display against Manchester United in the FA Cup final was extremely professional given the importance of the occasion, and they are at practically full strength with no injury concerns. City have also only failed to score twice in their last 32 matches.

Inter are no back numbers

Inter might not possess a winning streak that matches City’s dominance, but the Nerazzurri have been in fine fettle over the last six weeks or so. They have won 11 of their last 12 games and scored in all of them. Perhaps they can get on the scoresheet once again and contribute to an entertaining final, where I imagine we’ll see over 2.5 goals.

Argentinian striker Lautaro Martinez has finished the season like a house on fire with nine goals in his last 10 matches, while Romelu Lukaku has got five in eight before the trip to Istanbul this weekend.

Haaland and De Bruyne Show

There is no getting away from the fact that City are a very good side with very good players, but Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne have shone in this treble-chasing campaign.

They head into the final with the most goals (Haaland, 12) and assists (De Bruyne, seven) in the competition, and it certainly wouldn’t be wise to side against them adding to their respective tallies at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium.

If Man City can get an early goal on the board, it will leave their Italian rivals with an extremely tough task against their stingy defence. Back the English side to win both halves, win the trophy in normal time and win with over 2.5 goals.