Inter Milan have reached the Champions League final for the first time in 13 years after getting passed their fierce rivals AC Milan in a historic Derby della Madonnina semi-final.
Inter will meet Manchester City in the final in Istanbul after City overpowered holders Real Madrid 4-0 in the second leg (5-1 on aggregate).
Pep Guardiola’s side have beaten Bayern Munich and Real Madrid comfortably in the last two rounds and seem to be on a seemingly unstoppable march towards a treble of Champions League, Premier League – which can be won with victory at home to Chelsea on Sunday – and the FA Cup, where they play Manchester United in the final at Wembley.
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A look at the two sides
Manchester City
UEFA coefficient ranking: 1
This season: W7 D5 L0 F31 A5
Group G: Winners
Round of 16: W 8-1agg vs Leipzig
Quarter-finals: W 4-1agg vs Bayern
Semi-finals: W 5-1agg vs Real Madrid
Pedigree
Last final appearance: 2021 (L 0-1 vs Chelsea)
Last season: Semi-finals (L 5-6agg vs Real Madrid)
Best European Cup performance: Runners-up (2020/21)
Campaign so far
City wasted little time in securing their place in the knockout stage for the tenth successive season, but it wasn’t all plain sailing for Pep Guardiola’s star-studded ensemble. They needed a spectacular winner from the prolific Erling Haaland to complete the turnaround against Dortmund in September before playing over an hour with ten men in a goalless draw at Copenhagen.
After a quiet display in the last-16 first leg against Leipzig, Haaland hit a record-breaking five goals in the return before adding two more to his tally in an emphatic last-eight triumph against Bayern. The goals came from elsewhere in the semi-finals, and City were perhaps as impressive as ever as they cruised past holders Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate.
Inter Milan
UEFA coefficient ranking: 10
This season: W7 D3 L2 F19 A10
Group C: Runners-up
Round of 16: W 1-0agg vs Porto
Quarter-finals: W 5-3agg vs Benfica
Semi-finals: W 3-0agg vs Milan
Pedigree
Last final appearance: 2010 (W 2-0 vs Bayern)
Last season: Round of 16 (L 1-2agg vs Liverpool)
Best European Cup performance: Winners (1963/64, 1964/65, 2009/10)
Campaign so far
While Inter have struggled for consistency in Serie A, the Nerazzurri have consistently performed in the Champions League. They qualified from a strong group including Bayern and Barcelona and have now reached the final after eliminating Porto, Benfica and Milan. They have put in six solid knockout stage performances, keeping five clean sheets in the process, and more than merited their 3-0 aggregate victory over their city rivals.
Champions League Final Tickets
Man City vs Inter Milan – Buy Champions League Final Tickets