Inter Milan’s only real hope is another Istanbul miracle

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This article was published 09/06/2023 (1191 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There’s really very little point in breaking down Satueday’s Champions League Final between Manchester City and Inter Milan.

We could speculate as to adjustments the Italian side might make; we could highlight their potential difference-makers; we could analyze everything the Nerazzurri “need to do” in order to prevail in Istanbul (2 p.m., CBS/DAZN).

It would, however, be an empty exercise. The only scenario in which Inter lift the European Cup is one that combines the meticulous execution of once-in-a-lifetime performances and, even more significantly, a whole lot of luck.

Quite simply, Inter aren’t winning unless they happen to do something very, very special.

That’s no knock on them. They’re only two years removed from finishing atop Serie A and just last month beat Fiorentina in the Final of the Coppa Italia. They’re an excellent team and they deserve to contest this match, but even though they’ve been putting on a brave face in the build-up to kick-off they’re gravely aware of reality.

“They’re a very strong team and we know it. They’re the strongest in the world,” Simone Inzaghi, the Inter manager, conceded to Sky Sport Italia during the week. “They’ve won five titles out of the last six in the Premier League. We know it’s going to be a very difficult match.”

He added Manchester City are “masters in possession of the ball,” that his players would “be up against major difficulties,” and that his opposite number, Pep Guardiola, was “absolutely the best in the world.”

So at least they’re not kidding themselves.

Having already secured the Premier League title and the FA Cup, City will complete an historic treble by adding the Champions League at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium. It’s a result widely believed to be a foregone conclusion, with Inter merely a prop at the coronation.

And yet, there is still a game to play and until it’s actually played, there is hope. “And yet” – it might as well be Inter’s Saturday slogan. They wouldn’t be the first to use it.

Under no circumstances were Steaua Bucureşti expected to beat Barcelona in the European Cup Final of 1986, especially as the encounter took place in Spain. And yet, they somehow neutralized Schuster and Muñoz, and heroic goalkeeper Helmuth Duckadam saved every spot-kick he faced in the penalty shoot-out. He was dubbed “Eroul de la Sevilla,” the “Hero of Seville.”

Inter’s André Onana can perhaps summon an inner Duckadam when facing Erling Haaland, wearer of the Golden Shoe.

The 1997 Final between Borussia Dortmund and Juventus is inspirational, if not instructive, as well. The Bianconeri would shortly wrap up their second Scudetto in three seasons, and they were heavily tipped to cap a memorable campaign with the Champions League. And yet, Paul Lambert man-marked Zidane into oblivion, and unlikely Dortmund hoisted the trophy.

Marcelo Brozović could do worse than study the Lambert film before assuming a similar role against City maestro Kevin De Bruyne.

Then there’s the history of what happened here, 18 years ago, in this very stadium.

European champions only two years prior, AC Milan fielded a line-up that included Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta, Andrea Pirlo, Kaká and Andriy Shevchenko, among other superstars. Opponents Liverpool had Milan Baroš and Harry Kewell up top, John Arne Riise playing left midfield, Djimi Traoré and Steve Finnan at the full-back positions and the bang-average Jerzy Dudek in goal.

On paper, it was a mismatch far more pronounced than the one we’ll see Saturday, and when the first half ended with the Rossoneri leading 3-0, perhaps the only surprise was that they hadn’t scored four.

And yet, what happened next turned a potentially lopsided Final into the Miracle of Istanbul.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and key midfielder Xabi Alonso tallied after the restart for Liverpool, who also got a goal from Vladimir Šmicer of all people. Dudek was suddenly heroic, making a famous double save to deny Shevchenko in extra time, after which he stopped the Ukrainian’s penalty to complete that most improbable of comebacks.

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Inter can take heart from the Liverpool upset, from Lambert’s unselfishness and concentration, from Steaua generally and from further examples of unexpected Champions League heroics, such as Paolo di Canio’s coaching masterclass in 2012 and PSV Eindhoven’s sense of the moment in 1988, when they won exactly zero of their last five matches in the competition before beating Benfica on penalties in the Final.

There’s really no other way to evaluate today’s match-up. Manchester City will prevail – barring another Miracle of Istanbul.

Prayers up.

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Twitter @JerradPeters