Istanbul 2023: UEFA Champions League Final Preview
Image: Visit Istanbul
ISTANBUL — The 2023 Champions League Final is set to be a clash of styles as Manchester City and Inter Milan go head-to-head in Istanbul. City are the favorites for the trophy, having won both the Premier League title and the FA Cup this season, as they look to complete the historic treble. They are also Europe's most prolific scoring team with 151 total goals in all competitions.
Inter Milan, on the other hand, are a more defensive team. They have conceded the fewest goals in Serie A this season, led by the experienced manager Simone Inzaghi. Inzaghi and his men will look to nullify City's attacking threats and hunt for scoring chances off of quick counterattacks against City’s possession-based game.
The match is likely to be close, and it could come down to who makes the fewest mistakes. City has the quality to win the game, but Inter Milan will not be easy to beat.
Players to Watch:
Erling Haaland: The recently crowned Premier League Player of the Season has had a remarkable debut season under the City shirt. In Istanbul he will look to add to his tally of 52 goals in as many appearances in all competitions. Haaland is the most in-form goalscorer in the world at the moment, and he will be the biggest threat to Inter Milan's defense.
Lautaro Martinez: Martinez has been the heartbeat of this Inter Milan squad as its top scorer in yet another campaign, with 28 goals in all competitions. He is a speedy workhorse, and despite his relatively short stature, he’s a powerful player that will continuously trouble City's defense. This Inter team goes as far as he goes, and it is unlikely they will beat City without a pivotal performance from Lautaro.
Ilkay Gündogan: City's maestro and captain, Gündogan has been in excellent form since the start of the season, and has scored 11 goals and provided seven assists in all competitions. He is a key player for City, and as a great big game player, he will be City manager Pep Guardiola’s most dependable player on the pitch.
Alessandro Bastoni: The Italian defender is one of the best young defenders in the world. Bastoni is strong, quick, and good on the ball, and assuming the most likely way Inter could win this game is if it is a low scoring one, his performance in the final will be a decisive one.
Keys To Victory:
City's attack vs. Inter Milan's defense: City has one of the most potent attacks in Europe, and they will look to exploit Inter Milan's defense by tiring them out. Inter Milan have conceded the fewest goals in Serie A this season, but they have been vulnerable to counter-attacks. Knowing that the City side is better than them, Inter will most likely sit back the entire game to avoid City players leaking behind their defensive line. The dynamics of the matchup make penalties a very realistic outcome, especially for a potential Inter victory.
City's midfield vs. Inter Milan's midfield: City's midfield is one of the best in the world. They have a number of world-class players in their ranks, including Gündogan, Rodri, and Bernardo Silva. These players are all capable of controlling the game and dictating the tempo. They will set the rhythm this match will be played at.
Inter's midfield is not as strong as City's. They have some experienced players, but they do not have the same quality as City's midfielders. They will need to be at their best to disrupt City's passing game, most likely through taking advantage of the physical limitations of Man City’s technical players. If they “ruffle some feathers”, they can disrupt the flow of the game from the way City wants to play.
Pep Guardiola vs. Simone Inzaghi: Guardiola is one of the most successful managers in the world, and he has won the Champions League three times. Inzaghi is a relatively new manager, but he has already won the Serie A title with Inter Milan. The two managers have different styles, and it will be interesting to see who can outwit the other.
Guardiola is regarded as the Mozart of football managers. The prodigy has been very successful since his first year as a manager and has dominated wherever he goes. A strike against him, however, is that he has always had the most budget and the best players in whichever league he went to, but hasn’t managed to win the Champions League without the services of Lionel Messi in those Barcelona years. Despite all his other hardware, 2011 was the last time Guardiola won the Champions League, a whole generation ago. He has a resume unlike any other, but his recent Champions League failures stand out as a stain in it. He will look to change that narrative by winning the final and completing the treble.
Inzaghi on the other hand has a totally different reputation. He is successful himself, but not on Guardiola’s level. He will look to change that narrative by winning the Champions League as underdogs, and hope that this Cinderella run will be a start to greater things to come in his managerial career.
The 2023 Champions League final is set to be a close and exciting match. City are the heavy favorites, but Inter Milan will not be easy to beat. The match could go either way, and it will be a fascinating contest to watch.
The final will be played at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul on Saturday, June 10th. Kick-off is at 9:00 AM ET.
