Man City vs Inter Milan score: Champions League final result as Rodri goal secures treble for Guardiola's team

Joe Wright

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Man City vs Inter Milan score: Champions League final result as Rodri goal secures treble for Guardiola's team image

Manchester City became the second English club to win the treble after beating Inter Milan to secure a first Champions League title in club history.

A second-half strike from Rodri was enough to seal a 1-0 win at Istanbul's Ataturk Olympic Stadium and bring a successful end to one of the great seasons in English football history.

City, winners of the Premier League and FA Cup this year, matched the feat of rivals Manchester United in 1999 by becoming champions of Europe in the same season in which they won the domestic double. It is the second time Pep Guardiola has achieved such a feat in his coaching career, having done so with Barcelona in 2009.

Simone Inzaghi's Inter had gone seven consecutive cup finals without defeat and they made this a contest few expected. They matched City toe to toe and missed two clear chances to equalise, Romelu Lukaku blocking a goalbound header from Federico Dimarco and then nodding a golden chance against the leg of City goalkeeper Ederson.

The Brazilian netminder produced another fine piece of goalkeeping to clear a looping header from a last-second corner before the referee's final whistle sounded, prompting delirium in the stands and tears from those in light blue on the pitch.

MORE: Man City's Haaland finishes season with Champions League Golden Boot award

Man City vs Inter Milan final score

  Final Goal scorers
Man City 1 Rodri
Inter Milan 0 —

Lineups:

Man City (3-2-4-1): Ederson (GK) — Akanji, Dias, Ake — Stones (Walker), Rodri — Mahrez, De Bruyne (Foden), Gundogan, Grealish — Haaland

Inter (3-5-2): Onana (GK) — Darmian (D'Ambrosio), Acerbi, Bastoni (Gosens) — Dumfries (Bellanova), Barella, Brozovic, Calhanoglu (Mkhitaryan), Dimarco — Martinez, Dzeko (Lukaku)

Rodri yet again becomes Man City's big-game player

When City reached the 2021 final, Rodri watched on as an unused substitute as Chelsea emerged 1-0 winners in Porto. He, arguably more than anyone, had a point to prove this year.

Boy, did he prove it.

Rodri made his 52nd start of the season in Istanbul. Only Lionel Messi (57 in 2011/12) has ever started more matches in a single campaign under Guardiola, but you don't need that stat to know just how important he is to City.

Even after a first half in which he later admitted he was "s***", Rodri produced the magic moment, keeping his composure when a rare loose ball fell his way in the Inter box and he swept home a finish. It underlined how the Spain international is a man for striking first on the big occasion: he scored the stunning opening goal in the quarterfinals against Bayern Munich, the opening goal in the final-day win over Aston Villa last season, and the opening goal of the 2020 Carabao Cup final.

He earned his chance to show Guardiola what a mistake it was not to use him two years ago. There is scarcely a more deserving winner in the side.

Exceptional Inter undone as Lukaku endures cruel fate

Inter were not really expected to make this such a tough contest; in modern Champions League history, no side has ever had such steep odds going into a final. Yet Inzaghi and his players proved exactly why they had a previously perfect record in finals as they unsettled City from the outset in a way that Real Madrid and Bayern Munich did not even get close to doing.

Even after falling behind to one of the few chances they presented to City, the Nerazzurri seemed to believe the game was there for the taking. They ran relentlessly and attacked with speed, albeit not always with the precision required. And when they did manage to create clear-cut opportunities, they were thwarted by Romelu Lukaku and his unfortunate recent record of bad luck in big games.

Romelu Lukaku of Inter in Champions League final
Getty Images

After Dimarco hit the crossbar with a header and the ball bounced back to him, Lukaku inadvertently blocked the second effort with his heel. Minutes later when teammate Robin Gosens nodded a deep cross back across goal, Lukaku had the goal at his mercy and somehow nodded the ball straight against Ederson's knee. Desperate to make amends, he dragged a shot well wide moments later when a more patient approach might have seen him set up Lautaro Martinez instead.

It brought to mind his painful substitute appearance for Belgium against Croatia at the Qatar World Cup last November, when he missed four golden chances as his side exited the competition.

Lukaku actually made a positive impact to Inter's play overall, but those key moments went against him and Inter. It made for an unfortunate ending to the Nerazzurri's night after they very nearly got everything right.

Is Pep Guardiola the greatest manager in history?

No manager had ever won the treble with two different teams before Pep Guardiola. Then again, many things didn't happen before Pep Guardiola.

The City manager had gone 12 years without winning the Champions League, which was notable for a man of his standing. There were questions every year that he failed with Bayern and then City: about his tactics, and his penchant for 'overthinking'. Now, the main question is whether he could now be classed as the greatest manager of all-time.

Not many really felt City would go on to enjoy such success earlier this season when Guardiola criticised his players after a loss to Tottenham, but the run of form they went on to snatch the title from Arsenal, destroy Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, and then defeat Man United and Inter in two finals, was remarkable. It proved both his tactical brilliance and his skill in managing players and staff — the two main qualities of the world's greatest coaches.

It was the 30th major title of Guardiola's coaching career, nine short of the great Alex Ferguson, the last man to lead an English side to the treble. It's not hard to see the Catalan catching up in the next few seasons; the hard thing, in fact, is to imagine who will stop him.

Man City vs Inter Milan live updates, highlights from UEFA Champions League final

Fulltime: Man City 1-0 Inter Milan

It's all over! Manchester City have won the Champions League at last, and with it, the treble! Pep Guardiola has his hands on this trophy for the first time in 12 years, after masterminding one of the great seasons in English football history.

90 + 5 mins: Ederson again! Onana is up for a corner at the death. The ball is glanced on, Ederson throws himself up to tip the ball away, and Brozovic just can't keep it in play.

90 + 3 mins: Dias heads away a free-kick from deep, it drops to Barella on the edge of the box, but he slices a difficult half-volley wide. Was that Inter's last chance?

90th min: Inter have five additional minutes to hang on...

89th min: LUKAKU MISSES! Brozovic's cross is nodded back across by Gosens, Lukaku has a header barely five yards out, but he heads it into the knee of Ederson and Dias is able to turn the rebound out of play. What an opportunity for the equaliser.

86th min: Lukaku spins superbly and springs an Inter attack. Henrikh Mkhitaryan lays it out wide to Robin Gosens, but his cross is dreadfully overhit.

84th min: City are managing this game really well, keeping the ball in Inter's half. They're so close now.

81st min: Stones is down after seeming to turn his ankle in the Inter box. He's also got a huge tear in his shirt. He's off for Kyle Walker.

77th min: Big chance for 2-0! Foden charges into the Inter box after turning superbly, but he shoots too close to Onana and the keeper saves.

72nd min: Man City have only lost once from a winning position all season, but they're under a bit of pressure here. Lukaku shifts the ball away from Dias, but his shot with his weaker foot is fairly comfortable for Ederson.

70th min: IT SHOULD BE 1-1! Dumfries heads a ball back into the City box and it bounces for Dimarco, who nods it over Ederson and onto the crossbar. He then heads the rebound against the foot of Lukaku! Fortune might be favouring the English here.

68th min: GOAL! Man City break the deadlock! Akanji makes a positive run and that allows Silva to run ahead on the overlap. His attempted cut-back is blocked, but the ball drops kindly to the arriving Rodri, who is unchallenged as he sweeps home a first-time finish. City have the treble in their sights!

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67th min: Haaland manages to get away from Matteo Darmian and there's a chance to play in Foden, but Bastoni makes a crucial interception. Still we wait for something to give here.

64th min: Inter have a good spell of the ball in the City half, but a loose pass from Calhanoglu allows Guardiola's men to break. Stones tries a low cross from the right and it deflects behind for a corner. Inter win a free-kick after a shoving match in the box.

59th min: Huge chance for Inter! Akanji thinks a pass is meant for Ederson and allows Martinez to race onto a loose ball. City's keeper comes out quickly to block Martinez's attempt from a tight angle.

56th min: Simone Inzaghi likes to change his strikers around the hour mark, but he's got to go a few minutes early here: Dzeko is struggling and can't continue. Romelu Lukaku is on.

55th min: Stones turns elegantly on the edge of the Inter box, but the Nerazzurri defenders swarm City's players and Calhanoglu eventually wins a fortunate free-kick. That was half a chance for City to create something.

52nd min: Inter break well through Dimarco, but Ilkay Gundogan makes a rather robust challenge on Martinez. The referee allows play to continue, and Grealish wins a free-kick on the left, but Foden's delivery is poor.

50th min: A bit careless from Onana, whose pass is intercepted by Silva, but Acerbi defends well to prevent a low cross. That was risky from the Inter keeper.

48th min: Dimarco stays down after being nudged in the back by Silva. The referee stops play, and City's playmaker isn't best pleased. There wasn't much in that at all, really.

Second half kickoff

We're back underway. Can Man City get Haaland more involved in the game in this half? He had just nine touches of the ball in the first — the fewest of any starting player.

Halftime: Man City 0-0 Inter Milan

It's been a battle wits in this first half, and it's Inter who will likely be the happiest. Haaland had the best chance, but there haven't been many, and the loss of De Bruyne could be a significant blow to City.

45 + 1 mins: Manuel Akanji tries a left-foot shot from 30 yards out, and it's not particularly close.

45th min: Pep Guardiola is telling his players to calm down on the ball, which would be a more convincing message if he wasn't bouncing around the huge Ataturk technical area like an excitable labrador. We're into two minutes of added time.

43rd min: Inter are working diligently off the ball, not giving City an obvious passing route to goal. Grealish tries a more direct approach and wins a free-kick after running at Dumfries. Nothing comes of it.

40th min: Substitute Foden is into the thick of things quickly, but he gets shoved off the ball by Alessandro Bastoni after combining well with Silva. He then gets a few choice words from Acerbi after standing on the defender's foot (completely by accident).

38th min: Denzel Dumfries is in space to the right of the City box, but he can't make up his mind whether to cross or wait to pass to the overlapping Barella. In the end, he does neither, and Inter are forced back into their own half.

34th min: De Bruyne has tried to continue but has just signalled to the bench after attempting a cross. The Belgian will depart a Champions League final early due to injury for the second time in his career.

30th min: De Bruyne's got a problem here: he drops to the turf and the physio comes on to give him a look over. It seems he's hurt a hamstring. Phil Foden is warming up, but there's no change yet.

28th min: First chance for Haaland! City manage to find space in the Inter half and Kevin De Bruyne slides a ball through to the striker, but his touch takes him a little wide and he shoots straight at Andre Onana. De Bruyne then tries a shot from the edge of the box, but it's a comfortable save.

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26th min: A loose pass from Ederson to John Stones gives Barella a chance to attempt a lob from distance, but he gets it wrong. That rather summed up City's play so far: all a little unsteady.

24th min: Inter have edged these opening exchanges. They've disrupted City's rhythm well and have looked a threat going forward. No clear-cut chances at either end yet, though.

18th min: Brozovic fires it into the feet of Martinez, gets the return and shoots first time, but it's too high. Martinez and Barella are fuming — the midfielder had made a run to the right and Martinez could see that a pass would have put him clean through in the area.

13th min: Some good work from Nicolo Barella sees Inter launch an attack down the left, but Dias heads Dimarco's cross away. Inter repeat the move and this time manage to force a corner, but City clear again.

10th min: The opening minutes have been all about these teams getting a feel for the other. It's already looking like a real tactical battle.

5th min: Chance for Bernardo Silva! Federico Dimarco backs off and allows the City man to reach the edge of the Inter six-yard box. He quickly checks onto his left foot and shoots just wide.

2nd min: Edin Dzeko's first involvement is to slip and see the ball roll behind for a goal kick. Perhaps he felt like giving his old team just one more moment to enjoy.

Kickoff

The 2023 Champions League final is underway! Lautaro Martinez gets the ball rolling for Inter Milan.

5 mins to KO: The prematch show is done and the trophy is out on the pitch. Fans around the word have just a few minutes to wait...

10 mins to KO: Let the show begin!

20 mins to KO: Scott Carson was out being put through his paces just now. Man City's reserve goalkeeper is hoping to win the Champions League at this stadium for the second time in his career — he was part of the Liverpool squad for their triumph back in 2005.

40 mins to KO: The teams are going through their warm-ups now. They might have to take it easy — it's still very warm in Istanbul, even at nearly 9.30 p.m. local time.

50 mins to KO: Pep Guardiola said the decision to leave out Kyle Walker was a tactical one.

1 hour 5 mins to KO: UEFA thinks City's formation is a 3-2-4-1, which is also what we're expecting. However, the way City released the lineup suggests it could be a flat back four, with Stones on the right. But as far as Guardiola "overthink" goes, it's a pretty safe selection!

1 hour 20 mins to KO: Inter's team is also out: Romelu Lukaku, as expected, is a substitute, and Marcelo Brozovic comes in for Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Edin Dzeko, at the age of 37, starts against his old club.

1 hour 25 mins to KO: Real Madrid named their team extremely early before the semifinal matches against City, and Guardiola appears to be paying tribute — City's team is already out! It's more or less as you would expect, although Kyle Walker is only fit enough for the bench, so Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake start in defence alongside Ruben Dias.

1 hour 30 mins to KO: The Athletic's Sam Lee was among those who had to get out and walk the rest of the way to the stadium after getting stuck in traffic. It now appears the gridlock has delayed the Man City team bus, too. Inter are already at the stadium.

1 hour 35 mins to KO: Man City might be heavy favourites to win this match, but Inter are three-time champions of Europe and they're not just here to make up the numbers. What's more, the three previous finals they have won all came against teams who were bidding to complete the treble.

This fan below has definitely come to enjoy the occasion, although he might be in trouble when he gets home: his banner is an apology to his mother for not telling her he's gone to Istanbul.

1 hour 45 mins to KO: There have already been some logistical issues around transport to the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, with some fans forced to walk to avoid huge traffic jams amid confusion around whether the city Metro is closed (the line to the arena is actually open, but only to ticket-holders, staff and media). What's more, a building fire nearby has caused a plume of smoke to drift towards the stadium, as can be seen in this video from The Sporting News' Dom Farrell, who's on the ground in Turkey.

2 hours to KO: The stage is ready for the biggest club match in the world.

Man City vs Inter Milan lineups

City manager Pep Guardiola recalls Ederson and Nathan Ake to the starting lineup after they began the FA Cup final on the bench. Kyle Walker, who had been an injury doubt prior to this game, is among the substitutes, with Manuel Akanji lining up in his stead.

Man City lineup (3-2-4-1): Ederson (GK) — Akanji, Dias, Ake — Stones, Rodri — Mahrez, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Grealish — Haaland

Man City subs (12): Ortega Moreno, Carson, Walker, Phillips, Laporte, Alvarez, Gomez, Mahrez, Perrone, Foden, Palmer, Lewis

Romelu Lukaku, as expected, is a substitute, and Marcelo Brozovic comes in for Henrikh Mkhitaryan for Inter. Edin Dzeko, at the age of 37, starts against his old club. Dalbert is sidelined with a knee injury, while Joaquin Correa is fit enough to make the bench.

Inter predicted lineup (3-5-2): Onana (GK) — Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni — Dumfries, Barella, Brozovic, Calhanoglu, Dimarco — Martinez, Dzeko

Inter Milan subs (12): Handanovic, Cordaz, Gagliardini, De Vrij, Gosens, Correa, Bellanova, Asllani, Mkhitaryan, D'Ambrosio, Skriniar, Lukaku.

MORE: Players to win the World Cup and Champions League in the same season

Man City vs Inter Milan live stream, TV channel

  TV channel Streaming
USA CBS, TUDN, Univision Fubo,
Paramount+,
ViX, Univision Now,
TUDN app/website
UK BT Sport Ultimate,
BT Sport 1		 BT Sport site/app/YouTube
Australia — Stan Sport
Canada — DAZN
Hong Kong beIN Sports 3 beIN Sports Connect
India Sony Ten 2 JioTV, Sony LIV
Malaysia beIN Sports 3 beIN Sports Connect, sooka
New Zealand — Spark Sport
Singapore beIN Sports 3 beIN Sports Connect, StarHub TV+

USA: Stream the UEFA Champions League final live in the USA on Paramount+. Try 1 month free with promo code FINAL.

The match will be televised on CBS (English), Univision (Spanish) and TUDN (Spanish), which will be streamed on Fubo, offering a free trial for new users. Spanish-speaking viewers can also stream the match for free on ViX.

Authenticated users can also access a stream by using the credentials from their cable, satellite, or telco package on Univision Now or the TUDN site and app.

Canada: The 2023 Champions League final streams live on DAZN.

UK: The match will be broadcast on BT Sport 1 and streamed on BT Sport platforms, including BT Sport's YouTube channel for free.

Australia: Watch the UEFA Champions League Final, Man City v Inter, with all the action streaming ad-free, live and in 4K UHD on Stan Sport.

Joe Wright

Joe Wright Photo

Joe is a Senior Editor at Sporting News. He was previously a sub editor and writer for Goal.com before spending six years as part of the Stats Perform editorial news service, covering major global sports including football, tennis, boxing, NBA, rugby union and athletics. Joe has reported live on some of the biggest games in football, including two UEFA Champions League finals, Euro 2016, the Confederations Cup 2017 and the 2018 World Cup final at the end of a month in Russia.