Manchester City beats Inter and wins the Champions League for the first time

Manchester City have won the Champions League for the first time in history. Two years back Chelsea were too strong 1-0 in the final, now the Englishmen with Nathan Aké in the base won 1-0 over Internazionale in Istanbul.

Coach Pep Guardiola’s team also took the English title and the FA Cup this season.

The Atatürk Stadium in Istabul was the setting for one of the finest Champions League finals in 2005. Liverpool then came back from a 3-0 deficit against AC Milan to 3-3 in the second half and won after taking penalty kicks. It didn’t get that pretty between City and Inter.

In the 68th minute, the deadlock was finally broken. After laying back from Bernardo Silva, Rodri curled handsomely. It would be the winning goal.

Favorites City remained far from the level we had seen so often this season. To only one shot between the posts came the Englishmen in the tame first half. Inter goalkeeper André Onana saved on a diagonal shot by Erling Haaland.

As a defensive midfielder, John Stones was the most visible player on the field in the first half. Surely – with all due respect to the English defender – that was not a good sign. The breakdown of tastemaker Kevin De Bruyne (hamstring injury) increased City’s uneasiness.

Two years back, De Bruyne also dropped out injured in the Champions League final. Then the Belgian dropped out after an hour and City eventually had to leave the cup to Chelsea. Phil Foden came on as a substitute in the 36th minute.

Inter had its affairs in excellent order defensively, though the Italians showed little in attack. Nicolò Barella tried once from distance, after the midfielder took advantage of a sloppiness by Stones. The effort from long range went wide.

In the second half, City continued to struggle initially and Inter’s confidence grew. After a misunderstanding in the City defense, Lautaro Martínez had a chance. The Argentine found goalkeeper Ederson in his path, but the warning was clear.

With Romelu Lukaku for Edin Dzeko, coach Simone Inzaghi brought his Belgian weapon into the lines and Inter went for more. And City’s goal fell. Bernardo Silva crossed from the back line and the ball ended up with midfielder Rodri and for once not Stones.

Rodri decided not to go for the hard out, but the Spaniard placed the ball into the corner of the goal with great precision. De Bruyne jumped up from the bench despite his injury, and Guardiola cheered just as hard.