Champions League final tactics: Where Man City vs Inter Milan battle will be won and lost

Manchester City take on Inter Milan in the Champions League final this weekend.

For Pep Guardiola’s dominant side, who successfully added the FA Cup to their fifth Premier League triumph in six seasons at Wembley, it is the final step in their quest to claim a historic treble.

With Manchester United dispatched by Ilkay Gundogan’s heroics last Saturday, City now have eyes on matching their biggest rivals’ heroes of 1999 at Istanbul's Ataturk Olympic Stadium.

Standing in their way is an Inter team that have enjoyed a brilliant recovery under Simone Inzaghi, who was on the brink of the sack just a few short months ago.

Can the Supercoppa Italiana and Coppa Italia winners spring a huge shock in Turkey and claim a trophy hat-trick of their own?

Here, Standard Sport assesses three key battles that are likely to decide this season’s Champions League final.

Erling Haaland v Francesco Acerbi

Haaland’s ruthlessness in front of goal this season has made it seem like he can win games on his own. His European record is particularly frightening, and he heads into the final with 12 goals in 10 Champions League appearances this season. In the round of 16, he scored five in a single game, against RB Leipzig.

The 22-year-old will be marked by a man 13 years his senior in Acerbi, who stands at 6ft 4in tall, just like the Norwegian. Whether Acerbi can keep Haaland quiet could well set the tone.

Nicolo Barella v Rodri

It is easy to underestimate Barella due to his diminutive stature, but he is Inter’s short-pass master and will be playing his 52nd match of a mammoth season. While Barella is a touch more mobile than Rodri, the City midfield pivot is just as dangerous and can arrive late to crash shots in on goal with his powerful right foot.

Rodri has attempted (926) and completed (851) more passes than any other player across the competition this season. It will be fascinating to see which player manages to stifle the other.

Lautaro Martinez v Ruben Dias

World Cup-winner Martinez is on Real Madrid’s shortlist of potential replacements for Karim Benzema. The Argentine has scored 28 goals and registered 11 assists in all competitions this season, including six goal contributions in 12 games in the Champions League.

Edin Dzeko’s strike partner netted in Inter’s quarter-final and semi-final ties and finished the Serie A season with a flourish — scoring seven goals in his final eight matches. Dias will be the most central of City’s three defenders and must track Martinez’s runs, as well as denying him the chance to work the ball onto his favoured right foot.