Due to their recent form, Manchester City have been tipped as favorites to win the UEFA Champions League this season. Pep Guardiola’s team is on a treble chase with the premier league in the bag, and they will be looking forward to winning the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League in the coming weeks.
Accomplishing that feat will make them only the second English team with such a record. Manchester United was the first English team to achieve this feat twenty-five years ago. Although City and United are rivals, Pep’s side has a stronger squad and more established playing pattern with better results to show for it.
On the other hand, Inter Milan emerged as finalists after beating city rival AC Milan in the semi-finals. Compared to Man City, Inter’s season has been filled with more lows than highs, but their cup run has been outstanding. Winning the SuperCoppa early in the season and a Coppa Italia final against Fiorentina, Inter Milan is also on track for a cup treble this season.
Our article will discuss the league form of both teams heading into the final. Additionally, we will consider players who can make a difference from both sides to give you an insight and allow you to make informed Champions League betting predictions.
Manchester City Form
Manchester City has been in blistering form since the start of this year. So far, Pep’s team has won twenty-eight league matches with four draws and four losses. Their last defeat this season was on February 5 to Tottenham Hotspur.
Since then, City has won fifteen matches in the premier league. Following Arsenal’s loss to Nottingham Forest, The Citizens were crowned Premier League Champions. During this period, City also progressed to the FA Cup final. Pep’s side will face city rival Manchester United seven days before their Champions League final with Inter Milan.
During this current campaign, Man City has scored 147 goals. In the Premier League, they have scored 93 goals while conceding 31. The Citizens have scored 31 goals in the Champions League, conceding just five.
Inter Milan Form
By their standards, Inter Milan has not enjoyed a good season. However, reaching the Champions League final is a high achievement for this team. The last time they got to the final was in 2010, against Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona-led team, and they won courtesy of two goals from prolific Argentine striker Diego Milito. The current Inter team will rely on another Argentine striker Lauturo Martinez to win the final this year.
Inter’s league form this year is relatively poor compared to two seasons ago when they won the Serie A title. They are currently placed third on the Serie A table with 66 points. This season, they won 21 matches, drew 3, and lost 12 games.
So far, they have scored 67 league goals while conceding a whooping 47 goals. Their stats show they have a 58% win percentage in the league. In the Champions League, Inzaghi’s men have scored 19 goals while conceding 10.
Despite their poor league form, Inter Milan are in the Coppa Italia final. Inter defeated league rivals Juventus in a tightly contested match to reach the final. Their performance in the Coppa Italia and Champions League indicates that this team excels more at cup competitions. As a result, we expect them to give a good fight against City in the UCL final.
Before the UCL final, Inter face Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia final. A win in that match will surely boost their confidence ahead of their final game of the season.
Players to Watch: Kevin De Bruyne
Erling Haaland has a remarkable tally of 51 goals this season, making him a cause of concern for Inter’s defense. However, Kevin De Bruyne continues to embody the spirit of a true leader on the field. His consistent provision of opportunities for the unstoppable Norwegian attests to his talismanic presence.
This season, the 31-year-old midfielder has showcased his prowess by assisting in 28 goals across all competitions, marking his best for the club within a single campaign. De Bruyne demonstrates a remarkable ability to excel in crucial matches, as evidenced by his impressive record. So far, 11 out of 14 Champions League goals for City came in the knockout stages.
Players to Watch: Lauturo Martinez
World Cup winner Lauturo Martinez will be a crucial player for Inter Milan in this final. Martínez concluded the 2021/22 season with an impressive tally of 25 goals in 49 appearances across various competitions. This achievement marks his most fruitful performance since joining Milan from Racing Club in 2018.
Notably, he forged a prolific partnership with Lukaku, who returned from Chelsea but faced limited playing time during the initial stages of the season due to injury. Demonstrating exceptional synergy, the duo combined masterfully to secure Martínez’s decisive winning goal in the second leg against Milan.
Champion League Betting Predictions
Inter Milan has captured attention with their impressive demolition of city rivals AC Milan in the semi-finals. However, their upcoming clash against Man City in Istanbul will test their abilities. Manchester City has not lost a match in all competitions since February 5, so Inter needs to come up with something spectacular to win.
On their part, Man City showcased an extraordinary and commanding performance by defeating Real Madrid at the Etihad. Their win over current champions holders Real Madrid was compelling. It was a total demolition.
The truth remains that Inter will need to be at their best to stand any chance against a well-drilled Pep Guardiola City team
We expect an entertaining game with the array of attacking talents that will be on display, and this match should produce a lot of goals. Our take will be Any Team win and Over 2.5 goals.
Also, expect several twists as the game unfolds, with many tactical ingenuity from both coaches. Join Kings Predict for more free football tips across Europe’s top leagues.
