Inter Milan and Manchester City have been powered to the UEFA Champions League Final by star players who each suit the tactics and formations of their managers.
The Italian and English clubs rely on very different formations and strategies. Inter have leant on a 3-5-2 throughout, while City went 3-0-0 in a 4-3-3 and 3-3-0 with a 3-2-4-1 – which was deployed against Real Madrid.
Pep Guardiola’s side is very adaptable, which is one of the reasons why the Premier League champions are at -555 in the soccer betting to win the final. However, it makes creating a coherent combined XI tricky.
In order to get the top performers on both teams onto this Champions League Final Combined XI list, we’re going to have to play a bit fast and loose with preferred positions. Roughly, these picks can get hammered into a 3-4-1-2.
André Onana (Inter Milan)
Signed on a free transfer from Ajax over the summer, André Onana has already been breaking club records for his new team in the Champions League despite being called into action regularly.
Arguably Inter’s top performer in Europe, the Cameroonian shot-stopper’s seven clean sheets set the record for the club in the competition. Then, he added another in the second leg against AC Milan.
Rúben Dias (Manchester City)
It’s a very crowded position at the club, but Rúben Dias is Manchester City’s standout centre-back, particularly in Europe this season.
Good morning! ☕️🧘🏻♂️🏆 pic.twitter.com/K9xUSjupHw
— Rúben Dias (@rubendias) May 22, 2023
Along with a goal against Sevilla in the opening game of the competition, City have only conceded four goals in Dias’ 11 appearances, and throughout, he’s upheld an insane pass completion percentage of 95.4.
Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan)
Inter’s three centre-backs underpin Simone Inzaghi’s whole approach, and while the boss rotates his trio across the season, Alessandro Bastoni has been a constant in the UCL and arguably the club’s best outfielder.
The reliable 6’2’’ Italian has been dominant in the air and has even notched three assists in his 11 games in Europe, teeing up goals against Barcelona, Viktoria Plzen, and Benfica.
Manuel Akanji (Manchester City)
Signed for the equivalent of peanuts from Borussia Dortmund, Manuel Akanji was seen as a depth piece to the City defence. Instead, the Swiss defender’s versatility has earned him 46 games in the sky blue shirt.
In the Champions League, he’s been central to the backline. Akanji put in strong shifts at full-back against RB Leipzig and Real Madrid, but is clearly at his best in a centre-back role.
Rodri (Manchester City)
City’s midfield anchor has been pivotal to the club’s hopes of winning the treble this season, and even appears to have stepped up to another level following the signing of fellow defensive midfielder Kalvin Phillips for $70 million.
Whether you look at the Spaniard’s passing, aerial duels, tackles, or successful long balls, Rodri has been exceptional and will prove to be a colossal hindrance to Inter’s attempts to progress the ball up the field in the final.
Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Inter Milan)
Playing in central midfield, a bit more defensively, and in more attacking roles, Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s versatility and energy make him a potent box-to-box threat.
Hakan's got that Friday feeling 👍#ForzaInter #NapoliInter pic.twitter.com/tagmJmd3Ay
— Inter (@Inter_en) May 19, 2023
When Inter’s midfield gets the ball, they look to the Turkish international star to fire the ideal balls into the wider areas, and after playing those pin-point passes, he’ll join the attack and loiter around the edge of the box.
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
Portuguese midfield maestro Bernardo Silva is just as effective in the middle of the park as he is out on the wing of an attacking three.
With tricky feet, three goals, and an assist in the Champions League this season, Silva is bound to see the pitch in the final – especially as he broke the deadlock against Real Madrid and added a second within 37 minutes.
You’ll need to wait for the game to get going, but if deployed on the wing, Silva would be a top pick in the live online sports betting to notch a goal.
Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan)
Denzel Dumfries is integral to the shape and structure of Inzaghi’s 3-5-2 formation, being given command of the right wing from corner flag to corner flag.
Along with his two goals and seven assists this season, the Dutchman pulls opponents out of position, stretches the pitch, gets intp the box, and helps to form a wide defensive base without the ball.
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Perhaps the best attacking midfielder in the world, Kevin De Bruyne came back from a disappointing World Cup campaign with a point to prove. Right now, at the business end of the season, the Belgian playmaker is in red-hot form.
Istanbul it is! 😜 pic.twitter.com/G9wlK1aTeV
— Kevin De Bruyne (@KevinDeBruyne) May 18, 2023
In his last five UCL games, De Bruyne has scored twice and set up three more, and in April, he scored three and assisted five in the Premier League.
Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan)
Still only 25-years-old, while Romelu Lukaku has endured a torrid campaign – but has found his scoring touch of late – Lautaro Martínez has continued to fire in the goals, even building on his tally in Europe of last season.
In his 12 UCL games, the Argentine has put up three goals and three assists, and looks set to be a handful in the final.
Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
In the second leg of the Last-16, Erling Haaland scored five goals to become the youngest player to hit 30 Champions League goals and equal Lionel Messi’s record for goals in a single game.
Afternoon nap 🥱 🔵 #mancity #UCL pic.twitter.com/8L10N6rcJx
— Erling Haaland (@ErlingHaaland) March 15, 2023
All in, Haaland has 12 goals in ten European games this season, bringing his tally for City in his inaugural season – at the time of writing – to 52 goals in 50 games.
Real Madrid stopped him twice, but that helped to let City’s wingers find space in and around the box. So, you can concentrate on keeping out the “Striking Viking,” but he’ll still influence the game even if he doesn’t score.
With six players to five, Manchester City may have the greater share of this UCL Combined XI, but in the final, will they finally be able to make good on their tag as the favourites to take Europe’s crown?
*Credit for all images in this article belongs to AP Photo*
