Journalist Paolo Condo believes Man City are the favourites in the Champions League final but Inter Milan have their chances.
Writing in his column in today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper La Repubblica, via FCInter1908, Condo gives his thoughts on the upcoming Champions League final in Istanbul.
In a one-off match in football, anything can happen.
Both Inter and Man City are ninety minutes plus stoppage time away from glory. It will be the details that make the difference.
However, this does not mean that there are no favourites. Pep Guardiola’s Man City side gave a massive statement of intent with their 4-0 thrashing of Real Madrid this week.
Inter will have to try and cope with a team who have proved all but impossible to live with, not just this season but for the past several.
Condo: Man City Stronger But Not Unstoppable For Inter Milan
Looking at City’s win over Real, Condo writes that “At that moment, every Inter fan probably gulped and wondered if their team will be subjected to the same treatment in Istanbul on June 10.”
“The answer is written in the stars, but at the same time, in a context where City are 80-20 favourites, they could see a chance for themselves. They could even take some lessons from the heavy defeat suffered by Real.”
Condo writes of what Inter’s tactical approach could be.
He emphasizes “Defending, because ball possession will be dominated by the other side – a predictable 65% share.”
“But also counterattacking as soon as possible to avoid exhausting themselves doing nothing but containing the opposition, as happened to Real.”
“The presence of only Haaland in the centre of the area in the initial possession phase is key. Acerbi has the size to counter him but not the speed.”
“Darmian will have to double up constantly in the hopes that Dumfries can keep Grealish quiet alone. And hope that Dimarco will hold up the versatile Bernardo Silva on the other side.”
“This will force the defenders to keep coming higher,” Condo notes.
“In the event of Bastoni taking the ball off de Bruyne, that could be the perfect chance for a vertical ball to Barella, which has given Inzaghi so much joy in the past,” he adds.
