As the much-anticipated UEFA Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan approaches, fervent excitement envelops the world of football. This highly anticipated match-up between two European superpowers is expected to be a historic showdown that will either see the premier league champions getting their ever first UCL title or the Nerazzurri getting their fourth. 

The upcoming UEFA Champions League final presents a momentous situation as Manchester City and Inter Milan strive to establish a lasting legacy. Despite being dominant in their domestic competitions over the past few years, Manchester City has not yet had the opportunity to win the highly coveted Champions League trophy. The ultimate game presents a chance for them to solidify their position among the most prestigious clubs in Europe and seize their first championship title on the biggest platform. Going by their form in recent years, there is no doubt that Pep’s men go as favourites heading into the tie. 

On the other hand, Inter Milan holds a notable track record in European tournaments, achieving three victories in the Champions League throughout their history, including two in the first two editions of the competition in 1964 and 1965. Under the leadership of the current Roma manager Jose Mourinho in 2010, Inter won the UCL for the third time. More than a

decade later, they are back in the final, aiming to write another impressive chapter in their rich history. Inter could not only achieve continental glory by winning but also regain their position as one of the most successful clubs in Europe. 

We try to break down the strengths and weaknesses of both teams and also talk about the key players in the showdown event later this week. 

Strengths: Elucidating the advantages of both the teams going into the tie 

Courtesy-The Athletic 

Manchester City, with the shrewd leadership of manager Pep Guardiola, have demonstrated an impressive knack for maintaining possession and setting the pace of games. Their impressive offensive performance stems from their possession-based brand of football, sophisticated construction of plays, and powerful combinations, particularly between Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne making them a formidable team to contend with for any opposition. City has an abundance of riches in midfield too, with club captain Ilkay Gundogan, leading from the front with 3 goals in his last 4 appearances, helping City secure the Premier League as well as the FA Cup. 

The likes of Julian Alvarez and Jack Grealish have regularly demonstrated their ability to dismantle any opposing defence this season. Furthermore, the team's success in the season can be attributed to their formidable defensive line, with Ruben Dias serving as an unyielding cornerstone alongside John Stones in midfield

Under the guidance of the strategic genius Simone Inzaghi, Inter Milan possess a sturdy defensive structure and a sharpness in attack. The sturdy defence, spearheaded by Bastoni and Acerbi, has demonstrated immense resistance in keeping out attacks all across Europe. Opposing teams are persistently threatened by the team's capacity to quickly switch from defence to offence with prolific forwards such as Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez. Nicolo Barella will once again be responsible for managing the pace of the match and establishing a strong base for Inter's offensive forays in the opposition box. 

Weaknesses: What the two teams will look to be vary of heading into the tie 

Although Manchester City has looked unstoppable recently, their excessive dependence on their possession-oriented mode of play may occasionally make them susceptible to counterattacks. Teams with quick and straightforward attacking strategies have been able to take advantage of their defensive line's high position on certain occasions with teams like Brentford exposing the chinks in their armor in the premier league. 

For dark-horses Inter, the 19-time Serie-A winners may face some challenges when trying to penetrate the solid defence of England’s most successful team domestically in the last decade. For a team that was out of the reckoning for the league title a long while back, dealing with City’s attacking options could prove to be a spanner in the ranks for Inter’s defence. 

Key Players: The star men who will end up deciding the tie

Football is a game of 11v11 but some players can really set the tone for the match to turn in a certain manner. For Manchester City, The impact of Kevin De Bruyne on nearly all of their performance is immaculate and at times seems humanly impossible. The crucial component 

in Guardiola's strategy is the Belgian maestro's valuable contribution of vision, passing prowess, and knack for scoring goals. The midfield conductor of the city team, Ilkay Gundogan, has played a vital role in connecting their defence with the offence and making significant contributions by scoring important goals throughout the season. As for Erling Haaland, every match day, a new record is broken by the long haired Norwegian superstar. 

For Nicolo Barella, it will be a huge moment in his career if he can dictate the midfield battle against City’s stalwarts. Veteran midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan will have to roll back his Shakhtar Donetsk days if he is called upon to sure up the middle of the park. The midfield competition will be fierce as both teams strive to dominate possession and exhibit inventiveness.

Courtesy: Goalzz 

Moreover, the ingenuity of Jack Grealish is likely to once again present substantial challenges to Inter's backline. Conversely, the success of Inter Milan will largely depend on the performances of star forwards Lautaro Martinez and Romelu Lukaku. The former has been in outstanding condition, causing chaos for defences with his strength, and precise scoring ability, and has notched up close to 30 goals this season. Dias' dominating aura, extraordinary defensive abilities, and knack for understanding the game will face a challenge from the strength and scoring ability of the Argentinian forward. 

Tactical Analysis: Battle of the wits 

Manchester City, famed for their possession-focused tactics, intend to gain control of the match using their sophisticated passing and unyielding pressing. Guardiola's strategy focuses on rapid exchanges, wingers with overlapping moves, and seamless movement to expand Inter's defence and uncover opportunities for their offensive unit to capitalise on in the tie. The ability of De Bruyne to innovate along with the quickness of Grealish will play a vital role in overcoming Inter's efficiently structured defence.