Man City vs. Inter Milan (Saturday, 8.00pm)
© Reuters
Eighteen years on from Liverpool's miracle of Istanbul, treble-chasing Manchester City will strive to emulate their Merseyside counterparts' feats in the same city when they butt heads with Inter Milan in the final of the 2022-23 Champions League on Saturday night.
The two continental behemoths clash for the first time in competitive action at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium on the back of differing domestic fortunes, as Pep Guardiola added another two English football trophies to his cabinet, while the Nerazzurri's title charge in Serie A was fleeting at best.
The Premier League champions obliterated holders Real Madrid 5-1 over two legs in the semi-finals to punch their ticket to the showpiece event, while Inter earned the local bragging rights with a 3-0 aggregate triumph over fellow San Siro tenants AC Milan.
We say: Manchester City 2-1 Inter Milan
With Man City winning the ball back higher up the field on average than any other Champions League team this season (47.2m from their own net), and Inter doing so closest to their goal (38.4m), a classic attack-versus-defence encounter may ensue in Istanbul.
The Nerazzurri's counter-attacks can often prove devastating, though, and their recent purple patch in front of goal should also benefit their chances of breaching the Man City backline, but quelling Guardiola's potent frontmen will be a different matter entirely.
Despite Inter's previous rearguard solidity in Europe, Guardiola's charges possess the attacking wherewithal to finally propel themselves to European stardom and join their formerly noisy neighbours Man United in the exclusive treble-winning club.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
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> How Man City could line up against Inter Milan
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> Inter Milan's past record in European Cup and Champions League finals
> Champions League: Reasons for Man City to be confident of beating Inter
> Champions League: Inter Milan's road to the final
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> Champions League: Reasons for Inter to be confident of beating Man City
Barney Corkhill
