Manchester City on Istanbul mission to land elusive Champions League title

In their first attempt to land Europe's biggest prize in 2021, they came up short against Chelsea in a pan-English Final, and Pep Guardiola's team selection was rather surprising, and a contributory factor in City's 1-0 defeat.

Two years on, and something feels different. Having toppled 14-times champions Real Madrid in a rousing 4-0 win, City is on the precipice of greatness, and they are a team on a mission in Istanbul.

Inter Milan will be standing in their way on June 10, and they have been accustomed to European success, well they lifted the competition when Jose Mourinho was in charge, so their credentials shouldn't be understated.

By the time the Final rolls around, City will have already safely stowed away the Premier League title, and perhaps the FA Cup, and they will be hoping to complete the third leg of a treble which was last achieved 24 years ago by Manchester United.

A momentous evening lies in store, and we have outlined a few key takeaways from the victory over Real, and we have provided a mini preview ahead of the game to whet your appetite for it.

Pep masterclass

Rarely does Guardiola put a foot wrong during a crunch match, and invariably, his tactics will suit every occasion.

Famed for his 'tiki-taka' style during his decorated spell at Barcelona where he guided the Catalan giants to Champions League triumphs, Guardiola went for the jugular against Real, and they made them look rather ordinary.

The likes of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric were overshadowed, and although Kroos came close to finding the net, he was denied by a tremendous save by Ederson, who tipped his piledriver from distance onto the crossbar.

You can tell by the way Guardiola celebrated each of his goals what it meant to him, and Julian Alvarez's precise effort in stoppage time put the finishing touches to an incredible night's work for City.

More significantly, Guardiola was desperate to make amends for last year when City let slip a 4-3 lead from the first leg of the Champions League semi-final. And Guardiola was delighted he was able to eviscerate the memories of last year.

Speaking after his side booked their place in next month's Final, Guardiola said: "When the draw was Madrid, I said 'yeah I want it'.

"I had the feeling these last days we had a mix of calm and tension to play these types of games.

"It was really tough losing the way we lost and I think in the moment we had to swallow poison. But during one year we showed how special a group of players these are."

How do you stop Erling Haaland?

This is something that has puzzled defences domestically and across Europe this term.

Erling Haaland has been rewriting the history books - he is closing in on all 60 goals in all competitions, and at the time of writing, he has netted 35 times in the Champions League in a mere 30 appearances. He is also set to take the Golden Boot as he currently tops the Champions League goalscoring charts with 12 strikes.

We have fast run out of superlatives to describe the Norwegian hitman. He could probably have counted himself unfortunate to not have hit the target against Real, but he was denied by three tremendous point-blank saves by Thibaut Courtois, who prevented his side from succumbing to a heavier defeat.

Francesco Acerbi and Alessandro Bastoni are going to have a tough job on their hands trying to keep Haaland quiet in the Turkish capital. Haaland can make darting runs, and he is a serious aerial presence, so he will be looking to win every battle.

More than just 'noisy neighbours'

It doesn't seem that long ago since Sir Alex Ferguson labelled Manchester City as 'noisy neighbours'. Oh, how times have changed!

While United have failed to lift the Premier League since Ferguson retired in 2013, City have become the dominant force in England, and have hoisted the league title in five of the past six seasons.

Success has come so easily to them, and they have pushed the boundaries, making them so hard to reel in.

City will be reunited with a familiar face in the form of Edin Dzeko, who has been trailing a blaze with Inter, and they will have to pay close attention to him. Inter, of course, will look to hit on the counter and Lautaro Martinez will give City something to think about too.

Final thought

For City's owners, everything has been geared towards triumphing in Europe. Whereas the likes of Paris Saint-Germain have tried and ultimately failed, falling away in the knockout stages despite boasting the likes of Lionel Messi and Neymar, City have moulded a team of brilliant individuals together.

Over the past decade or so, Sheikh Mansour and his trusted cohort of advisers have elevated City to new heights, something that was scarcely thought of before they took over.

City have made themselves a more viable commercial option off the field, and on it, they have been inexorable in their desire to shift the goalposts and make themselves the most feared team.

And the Champions League Final, which is one of the most watched events in the sporting calendar, is the best place to start to demonstrate the kind of superpower they intend to morph into.

Aside from being compelling viewing for fans, many of the top multi sports betting sites will be deluged with a raft of pre-match lines for the Champions League Final.

For example, at bet365, you can locate markets for the full-time result, as well as the goals Over/Under section, and the timing of each goal at this reputable bookmaker. A cursory glance at the outright market at bet365 indicates City is trading as heavy favourites at around EVENS.

City have a date with destiny and footballing immortality awaits. The club's fans have been waiting a long time for this as have the players and manager, who would love to pen another glorious chapter in their history.

Perhaps this is City's year when they emulate United, and of course, Guardiola will come under scrutiny if they suffer stage fright. And if City do realise its dream, Guardiola will be eager to continue the dynasty for a few more years at least.