Manchester City were crowned champions of Europe for the first time in the club’s 136-year history after beating Inter Milan in Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final.
Rodri’s second goal of his Champions League career was enough to secure a famous 1-0 win in Istanbul as City completed a famous treble.
City’s Champions League triumph came seven days after the Premier League winners had beaten Manchester United in the FA Cup final.
Pep Guardiola’s class of 2023 are only the second team ever to be English champions, European champions and FA Cup winners in the same season.
Manchester City’s players and fans pictured celebrating after Rodri (left) scored the winning goal against Inter Milan in the 2023 UEFA Champions League final
IMAGO/LaPresse/Massimo Paolone
Manchester rivals United did it first in 1999.
Back then the Red Devils needed two goals in added time to beat Bayern Munich and complete the European leg of their treble.
City’s victory over three-time champions Inter was far less dramatic, but it still took Guardiola’s side longer than many had expected to make their breakthrough.
The first half came and went without a big chance at either end.
City were dealt a major blow when Kevin De Bruyne left the field after 36 minutes with a hamstring injury.
The second half was also a tight affair until City finally opened the scoring in the 68th minute.
Rodri hammered home from 16 yards after Bernardo Silva’s attempted cross had been deflected into his path.
Inter came close to an instant reply when Federico Dimarco headed his initial effort onto the crossbar before teammate Romelu Lukaku inadvertently blocked his rebound attempt.
Lukaku had a golden chance to atone in the 88th minute but he saw his close-range header kept out by a remarkable save from City keeper Ederson.
Ederson made another fine save with the last touch of the game – to thwart Danilo D’Ambrosio from a corner kick – as City held on to record their eighth Champions League clean sheet of the season.
This was Guardiola’s third Champions League title as a manager, coming in his seventh season as City boss.
Guardiola had previously led Barcelona to European glory in 2009 and 2011.
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