2023 UEFA Champions League Final [Expert Analysis]
The 2023 UEFA Champions League final will be contested by Manchester City and Inter at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey on Saturday 10 June.
Manchester City will be looking to become European champions for the first time in their history, while Inter are seeking a fourth crown in the continent’s premier competition.
Can Pep Guardiola’s men get the job done in the Istanbul showpiece, or will Inter cause a major upset?
Match Result (90 minutes) | Relegation Odds | Bookmaker |
---|---|---|
Manchester City |
4/9 |
V Bet |
Draw |
4/1 |
Sky Bet |
Inter |
7/1 |
Ladbrokes |
Can Manchester City Finally Get Over the Line?
Knockout Stage Results
- Round of 16: RB Leipzig 1-8 Manchester City (aggregate)
- Quarter-finals: Manchester City 4-1 Bayern Munich
- Semi-finals: Real Madrid 1-5 Manchester City
At the start of virtually every season during Guardiola’s tenure, Manchester City have been the favourites to win the Champions League. But time and time again they have come unstuck on the continental stage.
City have been knocked out by domestic rivals (Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea) whom they finished ahead of in the Premier League. They have been sent packing by French upstarts (Monaco, Lyon). Last season they were the victims of an astonishing Real Madrid comeback.
There is little doubt that City are the best team in Europe. Now they must prove it. With their formidable firepower up top and their technical excellence in the middle of the park, few teams on the planet can live with City on their day.
As long as they play the game and not the occasion, City should come out on top in the 2023 UEFA Champions League final.
Will Inter Be Able to Spring a Surprise?
Knockout Stage Results
- Round of 16: Inter 1-0 Porto (aggregate)
- Quarter-finals: Benfica 3-5 Inter
- Semi-finals: Milan 0-3 Inter
Few expected Inter to get out of the Champions League group stage, never mind reach the final. Drawn alongside Bayern Munich and Barcelona before Christmas, Inter were widely tipped to finish third and drop into the Europa League.
Instead they outperformed Barcelona to advance to the knockout rounds, where they promptly dispatched Portuguese duo Porto and Benfica. Even sweeter was the victory over city rivals Milan in the semis.
Simone Inzaghi’s side have developed a reputation as a cup team over the last two years, during which time they have won two Coppas Italia and two Italian Supercoppas. They are undoubtedly the underdogs for the Champions League final, but Inter will look to use that to their advantage.
The Nerazzurri are certainly good enough to take advantage if City are below their best, but no one associated with the Italian side will underestimate the size of the task in front of them.
Verdict
Inter have done brilliantly to make it this far, but it is hard to look past Manchester City in the 2023 UEFA Champions League final. This is the year in which Pep Guardiola’s side can finally get their hands on a trophy that has eluded them for years.