Image: GEPA pictures (GEPA pictures)
Who is favorite?
Definitely Manchester City. The star ensemble around the Norwegian ex-Salzburger Erling Haaland is ahead of almost all bookmakers and experts, Inter Milan are only given outsider chances. The English champions and FA Cup winners can make the treble of the season perfect with their first triumph in the premier class. Inter, on the other hand, has won the most important European club competition three times (1964, 1965, 2010).
Where will the final take place?
At the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. Four months after the severe earthquake in Turkey, the anticipation was “clouded”, as final ambassador Hamit Altintop said, “but despite everything: the people here love football and are looking forward to this event.” The last Champions League final in Istanbul in 2005 was a spectacle for the fans: Liverpool triumphed on penalties against AC Milan after being 3-0 down at the break.
What does the final mean for Pep Guardiola?
Almost everything. With the championship title and the cup victory, the season is already “incredible”, but without the coup in the Champions League something would be missing, Guardiola admitted. With FC Barcelona, the Spaniard has won the premier class twice – thanks to a then outstanding Lionel Messi. After that, however, Guardiola tried in vain to tackle the pot with Bayern Munich and Man City. The reproach to the mastermind after important games was often: coached. If the 52-year-old also loses this final with a team that is clearly better on paper, his image as a genius coach will be seriously damaged.
Which players should you pay special attention to?
Especially on Erling Haaland. Man City got him from Borussia Dortmund as the missing piece of the puzzle for the Champions League win last summer. “We don’t have to hide that,” said the 22-year-old. Belgian Kevin de Bruyne is hoping for his first major international title. For Turkey international Hakan Calhanoglu, the final in Istanbul is “a dream” and “magical”. According to UEFA, if they win, the Inter playmaker would become Turkey’s first Champions League winner.
Why is the referee the focus?
World Cup final referee Szymon Marciniak is considered one of the best in his field, but before the final the Pole’s appearance off the pitch caused a stir. It became public in the media that Marciniak had attended an event hosted by politician Slawomir Mentzen from the right-wing nationalist and Eurosceptic Konfederacja party as a guest speaker. UEFA decided against a replacement because the referee had apologized and assured that he was unaware of the connection to the far-right movement.
Where can the game be seen?
The final on Saturday at 9 p.m. will be broadcast free-to-air on ServusTV as well as on the pay channel Sky and the German ZDF.
Source: Nachrichten
