Defeat Internazionale 1-0 to become European club football champions
By Ed Emeanua
Manchester City claimed the Champions League title after overcoming Internazionale with a 1-0 win at Istanbul’s Ataturk Olympic Stadium.
Rodri was on target following a scoreless first half, scoring the only goal of Saturday’s epic final, and enabling Pep Guardiola’s City to a treble-trophy climax, having earlier captured the Premier League shield and the FA Cup this season.
Substitute Romelu Lukaku fluffed a golden Inter chance for a leveler late in the game as City goalkeeper Ederson managed to block his header.
The Italians were in a spirited rush for a goal as the game dragged to its end but City stoically rebuffed their onslaught to emerge a first-time Europe champions.
Manchester City players and staff celebrate after the team’s victory. Credit: Getty Images
Manchester City lost Kevin De Bruyne to injury with Phil Foden taking the place of the Belgian in the 36th minute.
City commanded the first stanza of the season’s climax of Europe’s most prestigious football final but both side failed to score despite both teams creating opportunities at either end.
Lautaro Martinez effort to score well inside the box was thwarted by Manchester City’s goaltender Ederson with a rescue in the 59th minute.
Manchester City finally broke the stalemate in the 68th minute when Rodrigo finished at close-range from a Bernardo Silva assist.
Two minutes later, Inter Milan scuffed a chance to equalize with Federico Dimarco crashing his header into the crossbar. Substitute Foden then missed an opportunity to increase City’s lead in the 78th minute.
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In the 88th minute, Ederson conjured up an astonishing save to prevent Lukaku’s header from sailing into his net.
The treble win of Premier League shield, FA Cup and Champions League crown all garnered in a football season affix the team into history and notch Guardiola his best accomplishment in a highly successful coaching career.
The latest Guardiola accomplishments are the products of a thirst for another Champions League medal that took 12 years to materialize.
The caveat that has trailed Guardiola’s path from Barcelona to Bayern Munich and now City, is if he could mobilize the cojones to win the champions league without a Lionel Messi in his team. Now the world finally has his answer.
The 1998-99 Manchester United squad were before now, just the English exception to the treble win, and the almost-25-year in the making for it to materialize demonstrates just how hard it is to accomplish.