The wait is over as Manchester City have won their first Champions League title, defeating Inter 1-0 behind a second-half goal from Rodri. Pep Guardiola's side had to persevere in the match as Kevin de Bruyne suffered an injury in the first half and was replaced by Phil Foden, but they did just enough to ensure that Inter didn't get back into the match. While it took some good fortune for Rodri to score his goal following the ball popping out to the edge of Inter's box, that should take nothing away from his excellent finish under pressure.
This is now Guardiola's first Champions League title since 2011 with Barcelona as his City side compete a treble winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. Guardiola also became the first manager to win a European teble with two different teams also completing the feat with Barcelona. Inter had their chances and did a good job defending Erling Haaland but thanks to Ederson in net, it wasn't something that the club had to worry about to pull out the victory.
Let's take a look at how it happened. Here are the biggest moments:
1. Kevin de Bruyne goes down
It was a heart in mouth moment when de Bruyne was withdrawn in the 36th minute. He received treatment after seeming to pull something, but couldn't continue and was replaced by Phil Foden. In a move that felt like a changing of the guard in a way, due to Foden being only 23. It took time for him to find the game, but in the second half, he was able to get into the flow of things as City not only went ahead but also completed their treble. Adding to his ever growing list of honors, Foden is now a European Champion.
For de Bruyne, it's the second Champions League final that he has been injured during and these are beginning to feel unfortunate. One of the best midfielders in the world, he also didn't complete the 2021 Champions League final which he left in the 60th minute. That one, City lost but it can become a distant memory after getting the job done.
2. Emotion all around
City may have emerged with the victory, but it wasn't an easy one for them as the emotion even got to Guardiola. After entering the half level, a bad mistake almost gifted Inter a goal. Manuel Akanji made a lazy back pass to Ederson that was intercepted by Lautaro Martinez, the Inter striker drove his shot right into Ederson but Guardiola sank to his knees thinking that it was a go ahead goal for the opposition. If Martinez squares the ball elsewhere, it could've been a different match.
3. Rodri does it again
City needed some help to get their goal with Bernardo Silva trying to curl the ball into the box but instead seeing it cleared to the edge with no Inter players in sight to clear it. Always where he needs to be, Rodri was able to run onto the ball firing a shot past Andre Onana in net. It's something that seems effortless for Rodri but make no mistake, it wasn't a simple finish he's just a different level of midfielder.
From protecting City's defense to keeping play ticking over in the middle, Rodri's play is a lullaby that keeps defenders from playing him tightly before he unleashes shots that can put City ahead. This is just the latest in a series of big goals for him.
4. Inter had their chances
While City were expected to walk the final, that wasn't the case as Inter had some of the better chances of the game in reality. After Romelu Lukaku entered, attacking lanes opened in the match but Inter already had one of the weirder attacking sequences that you'll see in soccer. Federico Dimarco heads his chance onto the bar, but it rebounded back to the left back. When he went to head it again, it then went into Lukaku's back before it was eventually cleared.
On another day, this ball is in the back of the net but the missed chance isn't one that's on Lukaku, who has been one of Inter's most effective players as of late. Sometimes, things don't go your way and this was one of them.
5. Ederson stands tall
While passing, again, almost cost City the match, late in the game Ederson was immense as Inter went for an equalizer. Challenged in the 88th minute, it was again a moment for Lukaku as Robin Gosens played the Belgian in at close range but Ederson's quick reflexes were on display to secure the victory. Ruben Dias also came up with quite the clearance to make sure that the chance didn't rebound back to an Inter player securing the treble-winning victory.
