Manchester City concluded the 2022/2023 season in grand style after beating Inter Milan 1-0 to win the UEFA Champions League title for the first time, completing the treble at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey.
The English champions started with Erling Haaland leading the frintline, with Bernado Silva and Jack Grealish on the wings. For Inter, the Italian side featured a Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez in attack as they looked to cause an upset.
In the first half, City dominated possession but could not break Inter’s defence. City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne then went off in the 36th minute and was replaced by Phil Foden after picking up an injury. Both sides struggled to create chance as the scores remained 0-0 by halftime.
In the second half, both sides came out with a point to prove as European football’s biggest club trophy was on the line. City opened the scoring in the 68th minute through midfielder Rodri after a brilliant piece of football.
Bernado Silva’s cutback found the Rodri at the edge of the box and the Spaniard calmly placed the ball past goalkeeper Andre Onana to send the fans in the stadium into a frenzy.
City had struggled to create chances, but in the end the reliable Rodri came to the rescue as Inter could not close down the spaces.
Inter looked for a way back into the game and also equalised when Lautaro Martinez struck the bar, while City goalkeeper Ederson made a brilliant save before full time to deny Romelu Lukaku.
The match finished 1-0 in favour of Manchester City as Rodri’s 68th-minute goal settled a tense game against three-time winners from Italy at the Ataturk Stadium.
The English champions now join the an exclusive club of UEFA Champions League winners after winning the trophy for the first time in its history.
Man City have done it! 🏆 #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/kU6ok68vgP
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) June 10, 2023
“Emotional. A dream come true. All these guys around here waited I don’t know how many years. They deserve, we deserve,” Rodri said.
Manchester City have now matched the treble achieved by Manchester United in 1999 of lifting the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League crowns.
CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE!!! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/n8dXDvOZyp
— Manchester City (@ManCity) June 10, 2023
City manager Pep Guardiola has now won the Champions League three times and took his trophy count with City to 12.
Guardiola also becomes the first manager to achieve two trebles in European football, having done the Spanish equivalent with Barcelona in 2009.
Dreams come true 💙#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/A0TjIdD91C
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) June 10, 2023
