2022 Champions League final has come to an end/23. The English «Manchester City» barely defeated the Italian «Inter» and for the first time in history became the owner of the main club trophy in Europe. Sport tells how it was.
Not even three years have passed…The Champions League final reached the Bosphorus. The pandemic receded and allowed the Turkish capital to host the main match of the European Cup season for the first time in 18 years.
Remembering the landmark meeting between Liverpool and Milan, we note that one of the current finalists included a participant in that thriller. City's 37-year-old backup goalkeeper Scott Carson was also on the bench at the time.
A pre-match show, fan performances in the stands and an anthem that gives you goosebumps. It doesn't matter how old you are or how immersed you are in the #1 sport. Such games cannot leave you indifferent.
This final turned out to be great too! Already in the 35th minute, it became clear that there would be plenty of sports drama in the Istanbul duel.
«City» quickly lost the leader Josep Guardiola's team immediately began to prove the status of the favorite. Erling Haaland fell into the shock position twice, loaded Bernardo Silva, Kevin de Bruyne and Manuel Akanji. «Nerazzurri» in the defense did not sit out. The same «bus» that the experts were talking about was delayed on the way from Milan. Yes, the Italians had no really dangerous moments. But what is the ridiculous play of the goalkeeper, “citizens” Ederson. However, unlike Loris Karius' stand-up five years ago, it didn't come to a goal.
10 minutes before the break happened, as it seemed, the defining moment of the match. No, the score remains the same. De Bruyne, who was injured, left the field. Two years ago, in the lost final against Chelsea, the Belgian also had to be changed due to injury.
Inter's chances of sensation have increased dramatically.
Haland can't — the midfielder will help the stronger the pressure on the fans from England flashbacks about the nightmare in Porto. The same total faith in the success of Pep and the company, the same lack of advantage in the first half. And the same KDB replacement. Too many unpleasant parallels.
However, in the 57th minute, Simone Inzaghi had to make a permutation that became fatal. Instead of pulling a muscle Edin Dzeko came Romelu Lukaku. It was he who was supposed to open an account in Istanbul. Only now Lautaro Martinez, after the monstrous import of protection, “City” was greedy and instead of an assist, he preferred to break through from an acute angle. Ederson helped out.
After 12 minutes, already failed «Inter». Akanji cut the defensive line with an accurate pass, and Silva shot. The Italians fought back, but Rodri was the first on the rebound, who almost broke the net. 1:0 — the score with which the last three Champions League finals ended.The score could very quickly change in both directions. First, Federico Dimarco hit the crossbar for the second time, but Lukaku got in the way of the ball. And then Phil Foden surprised. The Englishman who replaced de Bruyne screwed up several moments, in one of which it was more difficult not to score than to double the advantage of City.
Where Haaland upset more. The young Norwegian «disappeared» again. It would be called the main disappointment of today's match, but Lukaku… Forward «Inter» for a few minutes before the end of the final from a lethal position hit the goalkeeper. Perhaps the Nerazzurri had too much luck during the tournament. At the decisive moment, fortune turned away from the three-time winners of the Champions League.
UEFA Champions League10 June 2023 • Start at 22:00End
Manchester CityEngland1 : 0
Inter Mitalia
68' • Rodrigo Hernandez
Supreme justice? She is the most Armenian Henrikh Mkhitaryan's exit did not change anything. Dominant in the English Premier League (EPL), Manchester City still won the Champions League. For the first time in history. And this success is absolutely deserved. The team that destroyed Leipzig in the 1/8 finals, kicked Bayern out of the playoffs and trampled Real Madrid in the semi-finals, simply could not fly home the loser.
Guardiola is in his seventh year at City «took the trophy for which the sheikhs called the Spaniard. Who will say that Pep can only storm the Champions League with Barcelona? Nobody. Now he is a three-time winner of the tournament. One of the greatest coaches in football history.
The European season is officially over. Saying goodbye, here are a few more facts about his triumph: ;
- Guardiola is the fourth manager to win the Champions League trophy three times. Only Carlo Ancelotti has more (4);
- And Pep now has two trebles (the first was in 2009 with Barça). This is a unique achievement;
- Haland was the tournament's top scorer (12) and De Bruyne was the top assist (7);
- Argentine striker Julián Alvarez is the 11th player in history to win the Champions League and the World Cup in one season.
What about Italy? She has lost all three European Cup finals this year. Yes, Roma were left without Europa League gold medals, Fiorentina did not reach the top of the Conference League, and Inter were beaten in Istanbul.