3 main battles between City and the 'Nerazzurri' in the final of the 'European Champions'

Keep Haaland "calm". Inter Milan's Grand Mission

  • Man City defender Kyle Walker. From the source

  • Haaland is Man City's biggest bet to decipher Inter Milan's defence tomorrow. From the source

  • Man City coach Guardiola. From the source

  • Inter Inzaghi coach. From the source

  • A daunting task for Inter defender Acerbi tasked with monitoring Haaland. From the source

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The eyes of fans of world football are heading to the major site tomorrow, where the date with the final of the most famous competition in European football, the Champions League, when Manchester City faces the English looking for its first European title, Inter Milan, who wants to embrace the cup for the fourth time in its history. The match will be hosted by the Turkish city of Istanbul at the Ataturk International Stadium, where attendance is expected to be a record.

The match is filled with three main tactical battles, which promise an exciting encounter, including how Inter will stop City's outstanding striker Haaland, as well as the struggle in the battle of the middle, and also the most prominent question if the Inter attack will be present in the match.

Suspension of top scorer Haaland

In his first season in England, Haaland has scored 52 goals in all competitions, including 12 in the Champions League, as City celebrate their success by coming close to achieving the treble. Despite question marks over his adaptation to Guardiola's style of play, Haaland has proven to be a decisive striker and goalscorer.

The task of keeping Haaland calm will fall on Inter defender Francesco Acerbi, and it will not only be a battle between two tall men, but also a generational struggle as Haaland, 22, faces Acerbi, 35.

Inter may need to look at City's semi-final first leg against Real Madrid to take notes on how Real defender Rudiger restricted Haaland's movement, with David Alaba also rushing to the rescue when his team-mate was out of position. Inter's defensive trio will need help if they want Haaland to remain calm, however, Inter coach Inzaghi could ask the midfield to step back and deprive City of the space needed to reach the Norwegian striker.

De Bruyne vs Brozovic

City star Gundogan may have earned all the acclaim and praise for his goal-scoring tournaments at the end of the season, which helped City win the league and FA Cup. But with 10 goals and 31 assists this season, there is no doubt that Belgian De Bruyne is the man he will rely on to open up Inter's defence.

Inzaghi ignored Inter's failed high-pressing experiment to return to a cohesive team of play with a reliance on counter-attacks, placing their five-man midfield close to their centre-back. Inter have won 11 of their last 12 games in all competitions, but they will face the biggest test when De Bruyne tries to pull the strings of midfield. This is where Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic will be decisive not only in thwarting the Belgian international's attempts to control the game, but also in falling deep to pass the ball so that the Italian team can escape City's pressure.

Does Inter's attack appear?

City, favourites to win the final, have had more than 60 per cent of their Champions League games this season, which could suit Inzaghi because they have been decisive and effective on the counter-attack. The most important question remains whether the strength of City's defense and attack, and Inter's defensive reticence will show the Italian team's attack. Inter attacking duo Eden Dzeko and Lautaro have certainly worked well together, and the latter – who is the club's top scorer with 28 goals this season – will be hungry to add the European champions to his World Cup win with Argentina this season. Dzeko is 37 years old and could be his last chance to win a European medal after having successfully won three major European domestic championships in the last 16 years.

The Bosnian striker has helped City win league titles and the FA Cup and will be a constant threat in set-pieces, but finds himself facing a prominent defender such as Ruben Diaz.

While monitoring Dzeko is important in itself as he always keeps the centre-back busy, Argentina's Martinez looks a more difficult opponent when he is pushed as a second striker. John Stones has shone in his new position as a defensive midfielder, but not only will Martinez make things difficult for him, but it will also be difficult to deal with Nicolò Barella's late runs.

Walker: City must correct the mistakes of the '2021 final'

Man City defender Kyle Walker says his team are determined to "correct the mistakes" that led to their defeat by Chelsea in the 2021 Champions League final, when they face Inter Milan in this year's final tomorrow. Guardiola's side clinched the Premier League title for the fifth time in six seasons, beat United to win the FA Cup last week and could be crowned European champions for the first time if they beat Inter. His only previous appearance was in the Champions League final when he lost to Chelsea 1-<>.

Walker said in a press statement: «We know that we have a good team, but to be recognized globally as one of the best teams we need to win the Champions League. "That doesn't diminish what the squad has achieved in the last six years, we have a second chance, we need to correct the mistakes we made against Chelsea." City could become the second English club to complete the treble, and Walker admitted his side were full of desire to repeat United's feat of 1999.

The right-back insisted City must be crowned Europe's elite champions if they are to join England's greatest teams of all time such as United in 1999 and Arsenal's unbeaten Premier League triumph in 2003-2004.

Norwegian Haaland has scored 52 goals for City in all competitions this season.