The world’s most feared side hunt their first ever UEFA Champions League title, but to do so they’ll have to get past a three-time winner.
Manchester City vs Inter Milan
- Sunday 11 June, 05:00 AEST
- Atatürk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul
- Man City form (most recent first): WLDWWW
- Inter form (most recent first): WWWLWW
Club football’s showpiece event returns to Istanbul, 18 years after Liverpool’s famous comeback victory over AC Milan. This time it’s the Reds’ EPL rivals Manchester City bidding to win not only their first ever Champions League title but a historic treble after claiming domestic and FA Cup glory. Few could say the Sky Blues don’t deserve it. City’s deep pockets have allowed manager Pep Guardiola to assemble and organise one of the most impressive club football sides ever. But it means little without climbing the biggest prize on offer — one Guardiola himself hasn’t won since 2011.
✅ Premier League
✅ FA CupNext: #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/GebFH0ItBW
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) June 3, 2023
City start heavy favourites in Turkey — and for good reason. Their form line just cannot be ignored. They’ve lost just ONCE in their last 27 games; a defeat to Brentford when Guardiola opted to rest most of his stars after the EPL title was sewn up. While stars Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish have stolen the show for much of the season, it’s the less heralded Ilkay Gundogan who looms as equally important ahead of the Champions League final. The German has scored a brace in three of his last eight appearances, including in City’s FA Cup triumph over rivals Manchester United over the weekend. Gundogan was an incredible $25 with Palmerbet to score 2+ goals, but he continues to deliver.
Kyle Walker on İlkay Gündoğan three weeks ago:
'He turns into prime Zidane in the last few months' pic.twitter.com/4tp0HBZJ7N
— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 3, 2023
Guardiola’s men start strong favourites because simply, if they play to their potential they almost certainly win. But Champions League finals don’t always pan out that way. The underdogs have claimed the last two European showpieces; Real Madrid defeated Liverpool last season as $3.75 outsiders, while Chelsea defeated this City team as $4.32 underdogs in 2020-21. That, surely, has to give Inter manager Simone Inzaghi hope. The Coppa Italia champions aren’t in shabby nick themselves. While their recent record doesn’t quite equal City’s, they’ve won 11 of their last 12. Throughout this period they’ve conceded just nine goals, underlining their defensive capabilities.
Inter claim Coppa Italia and offer City a glimpse of their knockout power | Nicky Bandini https://t.co/iDzOr0MSRd
— Guardian Australia (@GuardianAus) May 25, 2023
The key thing Inzaghi will drill into his players is to not concede early in the Champions League final. Chasing an equaliser against this City outfit has caused the undoing of many sides this season, and could result in the straightforward victory for the Sky Blues that many are predicting. The longer a stalemate can remain, however, the tetchier City — more specifically, Guardiola — may get.
It’s widely accepted that Inter won’t get many chances in front of goal in this showpiece final, owing to City general domination of both possession and territory. It’s a positive, then, that Inzaghi’s strikers in Lautaro Martinez, Edin Dzeko and Romelu Lukaku are in solid touch — particularly Martinez who has bagged nine goals in his last 10 appearance and looms as key in Istanbul. For the neutrals, they’ll be hoping for a more open final than recent years. The last three Champions League Finals have seen the victor prevail 1-0.
Tip: Manchester City -1.0 @ $2.30
Same-game multi:
- Manchester City -1.0
- Both teams to score – NO
- Anytime goalscorer – Erling Haaland
- Total: $4.55
BET NOW ON THE 2022-23 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL:
