Manchester City have won their first ever Champions League after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Inter Milan to complete the treble.
Pep Guardiola’s side, having already claimed the Premier League and FA Cup, became the first English team to win the treble since Manchester United accomplished the feat in 1999.
It was a nervy final in Istanbul with City far from their best. However, they found a decisive goal from Rodri in the second period. They also survived two massive misses from Inter in the latter stages of the game.
Bernardo Silva created the first chance of the night when he snuck into the box only to curl the shot just over the bar.
Inter Milan, who started off strong, had their chances. Marcelo Brozovic tried his luck from distance and Nicolo Barella capitalised on a loose ball by Ederson. However his effort failed to get the better of Ederson on a tense night in Istanbul.
Rodri, with a powerful strike from a Bernardo Silva cutback halfway through the second half at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, rifled home the winner to give Manchester City the lead in a game where they appeared knocked out of rhythm.
Inter almost grabbed an equaliser instantly when the ball bounced kindly for Federico Dimarco inside the box, but his header crashed off the crossbar before the follow-up hit Romelu Lukaku almost on the line. Ederson saved a shot from the on-loan Chelsea striker, who smashed it on 73 minutes.
Inter’s resistance was broken. However, they nearly equalized once again in the 88th minute as Ederson somehow managed to save a clear goal-bound shot from Lukaku.
Champions League Glory at last
After coming so close in recent Champions League campaigns, City were not to be denied this time. This was an evening where only the result mattered to City, not the manner in which it was achieved.
The celebrations at the final whistle reflected the magnitude of the victory. City finally secured their hands on the Champions League trophy. They prepared to parade it around the streets of Manchester alongside the Premier League and FA Cup on Monday.
Manchester City has secured their maiden Champions League title with a hard-fought 1-0 triumph over Inter Milan, courtesy of a decisive goal from Rodri. This victory completes an extraordinary treble for City, as they had already claimed the Premier League and FA Cup titles. Manchester United in 1999 was the last English club to achieve such a feat.
The match in Istanbul saw both teams create scoring opportunities. Bernardo Silva initiated the action with a chance that narrowly missed the target. Inter Milan also had their fair share of opportunities, with Marcelo Brozovic and Nicolo Barella attempting long-range shots that failed to beat City’s goalkeeper, Ederson.
However, it was Rodri who broke the deadlock midway through the second half. The Spanish midfielder unleashed a powerful strike from a cutback by Bernardo Silva, giving City the lead in a match where they struggled to find their rhythm.
So close yet so far for Inter Milan
Inter Milan nearly equalised immediately as Federico Dimarco’s header struck the crossbar and Romelu Lukaku’s follow-up shot was saved by Ederson.
Despite Inter’s valiant resistance, City’s victory remained intact, with Ederson denying Lukaku once again in the 88th minute. This triumph holds significant importance for City, as they had come close to European success in previous seasons.
The post-match celebrations were exuberant, reflecting the magnitude of City’s achievement. Finally, the Champions League trophy was in their hands, adding to the Premier League and FA Cup trophies.
The team now eagerly anticipates their victory parade through the streets of Manchester, scheduled for Monday. For City, the result mattered more than the manner in which they achieved their greatest triumph.