Manchester City won the Champions League final on Saturday by beating Inter Milan (1-0). The Cityzens lift the “Big-eared Cup” for the first time in their history.
Published on : 10/06/2023 – 22:56Modified : 10/06/2023 – 23:22
They did it. Manchester City players won the Champions League final against Inter Milan (1-0) on Saturday June 10 at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul.
This is the first Champions League won by the English club. He thus offers himself a hat-trick this season, he who has already won the FA Cup and the English championship.
But unlike the return semi-final against Real Madrid – which had seen Manchester City largely dominate the defending champion – the Cityzens, given favorites for the meeting, suffered against the Nerazzurri.
A first half with few chances
At the start of the match, City tried twice, in the first ten minutes, to find the net through Erling Haaland or Bernardo Silva – double scorer in the semi-final second leg against Real Madrid.
Thereafter, the opportunities become rarer. The Nerazzurri are trying to impose their game, to unite, and are trying to break through. But these are repelled by the defense of City. The defensive wall of Inter nevertheless held firm against the Cityzens.
It was not until the 27th minute to see the first big chance of the game. Served in the middle by Kevin de Bruyne, Erling Haaland enters the Nerazzurri penalty area and tries his luck with his left foot. But his strike is stopped by Inter goalkeeper André Onana.
This first period notably saw one of the conductors of this Manchester City team, Kevin de Bruyne, leave on injury in the 35th minute of play. The Belgian international must then give way to Phil Foden in his place. The first period, balanced, ends with a draw.
Rodri, savior of the Cityzens
During the second period, the temperature rises a notch. The first big chance is for Lautaro Martinez. In the 59th, the Argentinian striker of Inter took advantage of a misunderstanding following a back pass from Bernardo Silva. The world champion nevertheless sees his attempt deflected by Ederson, the City goalkeeper.
You have to wait for the 69th minute for the match to unblock and see the Inter defense give way. A center back, countered, by Bernardo Silva, returns to the axis. Rodri arrives, launched, and opens the scoring with a flat right foot at the penalty spot. 1-0 for the Cityzens.
This does not discourage the Nerazzurri, who successively obtain two good chances, by Dimarco (70e) and Lukaku (73e). Inter continues to push, like, once again, Lukaku. The Belgian international gets a huge chance in the 89e minute, passing very close to returning to the score. But his attempt to head is repelled by Ederson on his line. A reflex save from the Brazilian goalkeeper of City who saves his team.
Inter will not be able to come back to the score. Manchester City wins the Champions League final, and succeeds Real Madrid.
