The club football season has all but come to a close, with only a few relegation and European battles, domestic cups, and the Bundesliga title to be resolved prior to the UEFA Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan. City are the prohibitive favorites, boasting perhaps their best ever team while contending to become the second English team to win a European treble. Inter are far from a pushover, however, hitting their best form of the season at the right time having beaten their crosstown rivals in AC Milan to reach this final. Here we will examine some of the keys to the match for either side, culminating in a prediction.

Manchester City:
Win or lose, City are the best team in Europe no matter what. The three-time defending Premier League champs boast a lethal attack buoyed by Ballon D’or candidates Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne, as well as a tenacious and athletic defense capable of shutting down world class attackers. They have a huge coaching advantage, as they are managed by Pep Guardiola’s tactical mastermind, and will be prepared for anything the Italians may throw at them.

X-Factor:

Erling Haaland. Will the Norwegian striker be on his day in the final? If he is, City are borderline unstoppable. While they can survive without his contribution, as they were in the semifinal against Real Madrid, it all but guarantees victory if he can connect on the number of chances he will receive in the box.

Inter Milan:

While many may argue that Inter were the beneficiaries of a weak side of the bracket, they are an elite team in their own right. Fueled by the attacking exploits of Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez, they survived a group with Bayern and Barcelona and knocked out last year’s Serie A champions AC Milan in the semifinals, and will have no shortage of momentum heading into the final in Istanbul.

X-Factor:

Can Simone Inzhaghi go head-to-head with the tactical brilliance of Guardiola for 90 minutes? City will always get their chances, but can the Inter defense hold on long enough for their own attack to find a breakthrough or two?

Prediction:
Man City 3-1 Inter

No matter how well Inter plays, it’s going to take some luck to take down this City side. They are among the best Europe has ever seen, and it would be a huge surprise if Inter can hold their attack off for 90 minutes.