Manchester City vs Inter Milan Road To The Final Compared | Nerazzurri Handed Favourable Run

Manchester City Inter Milan
Manchester City Inter Milan

Saturday night has got all the hallmarks of an iconic evening in the history of the Champions League, as Inter look to win their fourth title and Manchester City look for their maiden triumph in the competition. Ahead of the Champions League final clash between Manchester City and Inter Milan, we’re taking a look at how both sides reached the final two, and who received the most favourable run.


Manchester City vs Inter Milan Match Details


Having already claimed the Premier League title and the FA Cup, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City could complete a historic treble on Saturday evening, which would see them become just the second English team in history to complete such feat.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s 1998/99 Manchester United side are the only other English side to complete the treble, winning the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup – captained by legendary Irishman Roy Keane.

It would be the Citizens’ first-ever Champions League triumph, having previously lost in the final to Chelsea back in 2020/21 thanks to a sole Kai Havertz goal.


Inter Milan, coached by Simone Inzhagi, will be looking to spoil the City party however. The Serie A side are looking to secure their fourth Champions League title, but are rated as massive underdogs in the clash.

The Nerazzurri previously claimed the title back-to-back in 1963/64 and 1964/65, but also won the competition in 2009/10 under Jose Mourinho which completed an unprecedented treble, having also won the Coppa Italia and the Scudetto.

This time around though, it’s not quite the same story having finished their league campaign in third place. However, they do have the opportunity to claim the double as they beat Fiorentina to be crowned Coppa Italia champions for a ninth time in their history over two-and-a-half weeks ago.

Ahead of their clash on Saturday night, we’re taking a look at how they got to the last two – with Inter enjoying a significantly more favourable road to the competition’s final.


READ MORE: Manchester City vs Inter Milan Squad Values Compared


Manchester City Road To The Champions League Final

  • Group Stage – 1st in Group G with 14 points
  • Round of 16 – Beat RB Leipzig 8-1 on aggregate
  • Quarter-Finals – Beat Bayern Munich 4-1 on aggregate
  • Semi-Finals – Beat Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate

City went unbeaten in the Group Stage, as they finished top of Group G, winning four matches and drawing two. They were drawn alongside Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla and FC Copenhagen.

Both of their draws came in goalless stalemates away from home, against both Dortmund and Copenhagen.

Guardiola’s side unexpectedly drew away from home in the first-leg of their last-16 clash against RB Leipzig, before blowing them away with a 7-0 scoreline at the Etihad three weeks later.

It was plain sailing for City in the quarter-finals after beating Bundesliga champions Bayern 3-0 in the first-leg, advancing to the final four with a 4-1 aggregate scoreline.

Vinicius Junior’s inspired effort at the Bernabeu saw City held to a draw against Real Madrid in the semi-final’s first-leg, but it wasn’t enough for Los Blancos. The Citizens confirmed their place in the final with a dominant 4-0 display at the Etihad in the second-leg.


Inter Road To The Champions League Final

  • Group Stage – 2nd in Group C with 10 points
  • Round of 16 – Beat Porto 1-0 on aggregate
  • Quarter-Finals – Beat Benfica 5-3 on aggregate
  • Semi-Finals – Beat AC Milan 3-0 on aggregate

Inter found themselves drawn into an incredibly tough group, with European powerhouses Bayern Munich and Barcelona in Group C alongside them, as well as Czech Republican outfit Viktoria Plzen.

Despite not being favoured to advance to the knockout stages, a win and a draw over Barcelona, as well as two victories over Plzen saw them finish second in the group.

Bayern topped the group having won all six of their matches, as Barca dropped into the Europa League.

Inter’s last-16 tie saw them beat Portuguese side Porto 1-0 on aggregate, scoring the only goal of the tie in the first-leg at the San Siro.

Despite a scare in the second-leg of their quarter-final clash against Benfica, Inter despatched of a second Portuguese side to advance to the final four.

It was a Milan derby in the semi-final for Inter, which saw both legs played at the San Siro. A victory in both legs over their old rival saw them comfortably advance to the final in Istanbul, where they’ll be hoping to defy all odds and deny Manchester City an iconic treble.


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