It is hard to look past Manchester City who stand on the cusp of winning a historic treble, as Saturday’s Champions League climax peers over the horizon. Three-time winners Inter Milan hold all the European pedigree and prestige despite their perceived status as heavy underdogs, but they too can pick up another piece of silverware following their successful Coppa Italia campaign. Almost nobody would have expected the Italians to reach this stage, but having been one of the more impressive sides in 2023, we are putting together a Champions League final combined XI using both teams’ average player ratings so far.
- Five Inter Milan players make it into our combined XI, including three defenders.
- Competition top scorer Erling Haaland has the highest average match rating with 7.64/10.
Champions League Final Combined XI
Using data from football statistics platform WhoScored, we have taken average player ratings into account from this year’s Champions League campaign, to arrive at this combined XI.
Goalkeeper – Andre Onana
The only player in our XI to feature in every single minute of the campaign, Inter Milan’s man between the sticks has been particularly solid in Europe this season.
The 27-year-old has bounced back to great effect following his nine-month ban for accidentally taking forbidden substance Furosemide – he has kept eight clean sheets across his 12 appearances, picking up two ‘man of the match’ awards during their campaign.
- WhoScored average rating – 7.21/10
Right Back – Denzel Dumfries
An ever-imposing figure at right-wing back for Inter, Denzel Dumfries is a key figure both defensively and going forward.
Although his average rating is the lowest on our list, he been pivotal to their third-placed finish in Serie A with one goal and four assists, while his goal on match day two against Viktoria Plzen typifies his storming high press, even late late on in games.
- WhoScored average rating – 6.82/10
Centre Back – Alessandro Bastoni
One of world football’s most sought-after defenders, Alessandro Bastoni has more than backed up that claim this term.
The 24-year-old has the presence and poise of a player many years his senior, but his most redeeming quality is undoubtedly his range of passing.
Incredibly, he has three assists from centre-half in this year’s Champions League and remnants from his humble beginnings as a left-back are clear to see.
Across his 915 minutes, the Italian registers 1.8 tackles and just under three clearances per-90.
- WhoScored average rating – 7.19/10
Centre Back – Ruben Dias
Faultless and imperious in everything he does, many are labelling Ruben Dias the world’s best centre-back after Manchester City’s storming season.
He has a pass completion rate of 90% or above across all competitions, and has been integral to the Cityzens maintaining their tournament-leading defensive record in the Champions League.
- WhoScored average rating – 7.22/10
Champions League Final Viewing Figures Dwarf NFL’s Super Bowl, NBA Finals And More
Left Back – Nathan Ake
Although not a left-back by trade, Nathan Ake has proven to be a hugely malleable and adaptable part of City’s brick wall at the back.
Considering he was almost deemed surplus to requirements last summer, the Dutchman’s turn around is certainly commendable and he has more than earned his starting berth.
He has played in half of their European fixtures this term, and caught the eye across the two legs in the quarter-finals, where he limited a dynamic Bayern Munich attack to just one goal.
- WhoScored average rating – 7.02/10
Defensive Midfield – Rodri
Moulded in the shape of Sergio Busquets, Rodri has added new elements to his near-complete game.
Rodri won possession 16 different times today, at least seven more times than any other player on the pitch.
Machine. #MCIMUN | #FACupFinal pic.twitter.com/eMd7ynTP66
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) June 3, 2023
He is one of the most effective enforcers in the Champions League this term with over two tackles per game, and his lofty pass success rates and average long balls per-90 are all but sidenotes to his staggering football IQ.
- WhoScored average rating – 7.15/10
Midfielder – Kevin De Bruyne
Another hugely productive season for the Belgian has seen him rack up six assists in Europe, providing the perfect foundation for Erling Haaland to take his own tally up to 12 this campaign.
Elsewhere, his stunning long-rage equaliser at the Bernabeu in the last four felt like a momentous goal at the time, and may have gone some way to laying the groundwork for their staggering 4-0 return leg victory.
2.3 key passes per game, as well as just over two crosses per-90 makes him a deadly, yet pivotal piece in Pep Guardiola’s complex tactical jigsaw.
- WhoScored average rating – 7.52/10
Midfielder – Hakan Calhanoglu
It may come as a surprise to some to not see an all-Manchester City midfield, but Hakan Calhanoglu’s impact since switching red for blue in Milan has been notable.
The Turkish midfielder could become the first full international from him homeland to win the Champions League on Saturday.
Inter players with most chances created in Serie A 2022/23 🎯
6⃣8⃣ Hakan Calhanoglu
5⃣9⃣ Federico Dimarco
5⃣4⃣ Nicolo Barella
4⃣6⃣ Lautaro Martinez
3⃣1⃣ Denzel DumfriesArchitect👌 pic.twitter.com/Gce10oWqLs
— Stats24 (@_Stats24) June 3, 2023
His masterful performances in the middle of the park, which included a staggering, yet typical long-range effort against rivals AC in the semi-finals, have earned him wide praise from the football community.
- WhoScored average rating – 7.03/10
Winger – Bernardo Silva
Pep Guardiola has remained coy over recent questions concerning the future of Bernardo Silva. Despite constant rumours linking him with an exit over the past few seasons, he continues to be one of City’s most important players.
He has shown himself to be pivotal in the latter stages of the Champions League in recent years, and this season was no different, firing them into an early lead against Madrid to kickstart their 4-0 romping.
Three goals, two assists and an average of just under two key passes per 90 highlight just how key he is to City’s style of play as he eyes a first ever European title.
- WhoScored average rating – 7.25/10
Winger – Jack Grealish
At face value, Jack Grealish’s output doesn’t jump off the page, but analysing his game solely on the basis of numbers is doing him a great injustice.
After waves of criticism in his maiden season in Manchester, he has elevated his game to new levels, and his ability to carry the ball and absorb pressure frees up other key figures.
His presence has changed the way Guardiola chooses to play, and his positional know-how is undoubtedly one of the reasons Erling Haaland has managed to be so productive in front of goal.
He completes an average of three key passes per-game in Europe, and he ranks among the best dribblers in the Champions League with around two successful bursts across his 11 appearances.
- WhoScored average rating – 7.11/10
Forward – Erling Haaland
Did you really expect anyone different up top?
This year’s Champions League top scorer is currently on 12 goals, and he needs just one more to break Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s single-season record for an English club.
A hat-trick in the final, which we certainly wouldn’t rule out for the Norwegian, would also move him level with Karim Benzema and Cristiano’s knockout phase record of 11 goals.
With an average rating of 7.64 per-game, he ranks just behind Vinicius Jr (7.77) when taking into account players who have featured in 10 games or more.
- WhoScored average rating – 7.64/10
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