Man City vs Inter: The key head-to-heads in the Champions League final
The Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter promises to be an entertaining and lively affair with a number of intriguing matchups.
Here we have taken a look through some of the key battles ahead of Saturday’s final in Istanbul.
🎙️ Edge of the Box - Champions League Final Preview 🎙️
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) June 8, 2023
🗣️ @danbardell is joined by @jonawils to discuss:
🔑 Ilkay Gundogan's importance
⚽ If Romelu Lukaku will start
🔄 Rodri's role in the final
🇮🇹 Italian football's resurgence
➡️ Plus much more!
🔗 Watch now 👇
Ederson vs Andre Onana
Ederson, in a Manchester City side that have the second highest average possession (61%) in the Champions League this season, is often a goalkeeper with less to do than most. However, when called upon to defend his goal, the Brazilian has been on hand to produce, having only conceded four times in the competition, the fewest of any goalkeeper to make at least five appearances this season, while his six clean sheets has included home ties against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. Pep Guardiola requires players to be good with the ball at their feet and that is no different for Ederson, underlined by his 85.2% pass success rate, which includes 173 accurate short passes, which is so vital to City’s build-up play.
In the Inter goal will be Andre Onana, who has been one of the top performing goalkeepers in the Champions League this season, making more saves (44) than any other player this season. A save success rate of 80% ranks as one of the best, while his eight clean sheets is more than any other shotstopper. Inter usually play with two forwards, meaning long-balls are key to their gameplan, averaging 32.5 per game, which only three teams including City (32.7) can better. As such, it is no surprise that Onana is the only player in the Champions League this season to have made at least 100 accurate long-balls, and returned a 50.7% long ball success rate, highlighting his importance to the team.
Ruben Dias vs Alessandro Bastoni
Equally as important to City’s build-up from the back is Ruben Dias. The Portuguese centre-back is the Cityzens' fourth highest rated (7.22) player in the Champions League this season and his role in the team goes beyond just his defensive contribution. This is highlighted by the fact that only Rodri (849) has made more accurate passes than Dias (835) in the Champions League, while his pass success rate of 95.4% is the best in the competition. But of course, sitting at the heart of defence, his work off the ball has been just as important, with his tackle success rate of 92.3% being the best among players to attempt 20+ tackles in Europe’s elite club competition this season.
For Inter, their main asset at the back is arguably Alessandro Bastoni, who has been dribbled past only four times in his 11 appearances, which is the third lowest among those players who have played 850+ minutes in the Champions League this season, while he has also won possession in the defensive third 29 times. Despite being a centre-back by trade, Bastoni is still very pivotal to Inter’s attack and he has managed to register 15 key passes, six of which have been big chances, which has in turn has seen him register three assists, which only eight players in the competition this season can better.
Ilkay Gundogan vs Nicolo Barella
So often has been the case in the last few years, Ilkay Gundogan is coming up clutch at the business end of the season for Guardiola’s side. While rumours circulate about his future, his main focus will be on winning this match and his contribution across the pitch will be key. Most importantly will be his eye for a pass, which has been conveyed in the Champions League this season with his 624 accurate passes, which makes him one of only seven players to register at least 600 accurate passes. Likewise picking out that pocket of space will play a key role in City’s buildup and his 70 passes into the final third is the 11th highest in the Champions League this season as he looks to unlock Inter’s defence.
Inter have a similar strong point in their midfield, too, in the form of Nicolo Barella. The Italy international is more of a deeper lying midfielder in the sense that his defensive contribution is more noticeable as he seeks to break up play of the opposition, having made 21 tackles and won possession in the midfield third 27 times in the Champions League this season. Barella also has a keen eye for goal and among Inter’s squad only Edin Dzeko (4) has scored more goals than the 26-year-old (3), which he scored from a total of 17 shots, giving him a respectable 17.6% conversion rate.
Erling Haaland vs Edin Dzeko
In just 29 career appearances in the Champions League, Erling Haaland has scored 35 goals, 12 of which have been scored this season for City, which means he has effectively clinched the Champions League top scorer award for the second time. The Norwegian’s 12 goals have come from 40 shots, the most of any player in the Champions League this season, which has given him a conversion rate of 30%, the second best of those to register 20 or more shots. Not only does Haaland score goals, but his physical presence plays a big part too. Indeed, he has won 60.9% of his aerial duels contested in the competition this season, while he has registered 65 touches in the opposition box, which only three players can better.
A player all too familiar with the City faithful is Inter target man Edin Dzeko. The Bosnian spent five seasons at the Etihad, where he won the Premier League twice, FA Cup, League Cup and Community Shield. He will be hoping to end City’s quest for a treble and as Inter’s main marksman in the Champions League this season with four goals, he will be the one tasked with doing such job. Like Haaland, Dzeko will look to dominate in the air with only Olivier Giroud (50) winning more aerial duels than the experienced forward (35). 46 touches in the opposition box also shows that he is an ever-present high up the pitch, and so a constant threat for opposition defences.
