Champions League Final
The Champions League final this year was hardly a surprise, as Manchester City took their place on the grand stage once again. Their challenger? Inter Milan. At first glance, many would favor Manchester City, but a closer look reveals a flicker of doubt in that assumption. Throughout this season, Inter Milan has consistently displayed the will and determination required to rise to the occasion when it truly matters.
In the early stages and throughout the match, Inter Milan seemed to have the upper hand, while Manchester City appeared somewhat timid and hesitant at times. One contributing factor to this was the lingering hamstring injury that Kevin De Bruyne had been dealing with since the Bayern Munich match. As a result, he was substituted out in the 36th minute for Phil Foden. It has been a challenging year for De Bruyne, as he previously suffered a fractured nose and eye socket in a collision with Antonio Rudiger during Man City's last Champions League Finals appearance against Chelsea in 2021, which resulted in a 1-0 loss to the Blues.
The first half ended in a 0-0 draw, with several opportunities for both teams to capitalize. In the 26th minute, Haaland had a chance but his attempt went straight at Onana, resulting in a simple save.
The second half delivered a much more thrilling spectacle, filled with ups and downs. In the 57th minute, a miscue in communication between Manuel Akanji and Ederson led to an attempt by Lautaro Martínez, which was swiftly saved by Ederson. The breakthrough for Manchester City came in the 68th minute with a sensational goal by Rodri, bending the ball around two Inter Milan players, assisted by a well-executed cutback pass from Bernardo Silva. It was a display of pure class and an exciting finish to witness. Shortly after that goal, Federico Dimarco hit the crossbar with a header, followed by a peculiar twist as Romelu Lukaku inadvertently blocked his own teammate's follow-up header. Lukaku had several opportunities on target, but Ederson proved to be the better man, making crucial saves. Ultimately, Manchester City's dominance in possession and their goal proved to be too much for Inter Milan to handle.
In summary, the match showcased Inter Milan's initial advantage, but Manchester City rallied back with a brilliant goal and held their ground with superior possession, ultimately securing the victory.
Congratulations to Manchester City for not only winning the Champions League but completing the Trebel as well! Hopefully my Gooners(Arsenal FC) can hoist the Champions League trophy high above their heads next year for the first time in club history!
Until next time…
I bid adieu!