Man City vs Inter Milan LIVE! Champions League final match stream, latest score and goal updates today
Manchester City look to lift the Champions League trophy for the first time and in doing so complete the Treble as they face Inter Milan in tonight’s final in Istanbul. The Premier League and FA Cup have already been secured, and Pep Guardiola’s side now turn their attention to the trophy they crave more than any other.
City have been in sensational form in recent months, their final-day defeat to Brentford the only time they have been beaten in any competition since the beginning of February. They dismantled competition specialists Real Madrid in the last-four and go into tonight’s Champions League final as massive favourites. Erling Haaland was signed for occasions like this – it is his last opportunity to add to the 52 goals he has already scored for City this season.
Inter are in the final for the first time since they lifted the trophy in 2010 and, having already won the Supercoppa Italiana and Coppa Italia this season, are looking for a hat-trick of their own. Henrikh Mkhitaryan is fit enough only for the bench, with Romelu Lukaku also among the substitutes. Follow Man City vs Inter Milan with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog below!
Live updates
Unfamiliar territory for Inter camp
Warm-ups done!
The teams have gone back inside the dressing rooms in Istanbul.
Time for one final message from Guardiola and Inzaghi, before the players come out again for a match that could define their careers.
No pressure.
De Bruyne looking for ‘immense’ night
Kevin De Bruyne was asked yesterday whether winning the Champions League was a dream or an obsession.
“Maybe both,” he responded. “I’ve been here a long time. For me it’s been an incredible, the eight years.
“But we haven’t won this competition. That’s the only little reminder people can give us. We’ve been consistent but we need to find a way of winning the first one. If we do, it’ll be immense for the players and the club.
“We’ve got a chance to close that [chapter] if we are good enough.”
Lautaro Martinez v Ruben Dias
World Cup-winner Lautaro Martinez is on Real Madrid’s shortlist of potential replacements for Karim Benzema, and is also being tracked by Chelsea.
The Argentine has scored 28 goals and registered 11 assists in all competitions this season, including six goal contributions in 12 games in the Champions League.
Edin Dzeko’s strike partner netted in Inter’s quarter-final and semi-final ties and finished the Serie A season with a flourish — scoring seven goals in his final eight matches.
Dias will be the most central of City’s three defenders and must track Martinez’s runs, as well as denying him the chance to work the ball onto his favoured right foot.
Erling Haaland v Francesco Acerbi
Erling Haaland’s ruthlessness in front of goal this season has made it seem like he can win games on his own.
His European record is particularly frightening, and he heads into the final with 12 goals in 10 Champions League appearances this season. In the round of 16, he scored five in a single game, against RB Leipzig.
The 22-year-old will be marked by a man 13 years his senior in Francesco Acerbi, who stands at 6ft 4in tall, just like the Norwegian. Whether Acerbi can keep Haaland quiet could well set the tone.
Wait over for Pep?
It’s over a decade now since Pep Guardiola last lifted the Champions League trophy.
That was with his all-conquering Barcelona team, and he’s been unable to return to Europe’s summit since then with either Bayern Munich or Man City.
He fell just short two years ago, and it would surely be the most disappointing night of his career should his side fail to deliver tonight.
Pre-match thoughts from Guardiola
On Kyle Walker missing out: “He could [have started]. It was really tough because Kyle is so important. For the way we want to defend and attack we needed a different type of player.”
On Inter’s threat: “Italian teams are competitors. Inter have really good patterns. The way they play is so clear. They are incredibly stable and aggressive. To defend and defend, they feel comfortable. It’s cultural in Italy. I admire it. It’s not easy to do it.”
Inzaghi battles back from the brink
Barely two months ago, Simone Inzaghi was on the verge of being sacked. Inter Milan were without a win in five Serie A games and had just lost 1-0 at home against Monza, leading La Gazzetta dello Sport to say his future was hanging by a thread.
Fail to get past Benfica in the Champions League quarter-finals, and Inzaghi was gone.
But, having won 2-0 in Portugal in the first leg, Inter drew 3-3 at the San Siro to go through and, since then, they have not looked back. They finished the season with 11 wins in 12 matches in all competitions, finished third in Serie A, won the Coppa Italia and saw off city rivals AC Milan in the Champions League semi-finals.
It has been a remarkable turnaround by Inzaghi, who has constantly defied the odds.
Read our full piece on the Inter boss here
