The stage is set, the stadium is ready, the Champions League trophy has been polished and we are now less than 24 hours away from European football’s showpiece event.
Manchester City and Inter Milan will go head-to-head in the Champions League final on Saturday night, and there is plenty on the line for both sides.
The talk of the week has been over whether Pep Guardiola’s team can end their obsession and dream of winning European football’s greatest honour after it has evaded them for so long. Undoing the heartache of 2021 by finally clinching the Champions League, and with it, a historic Treble, there is a lot riding on the game on Saturday for the Citizens.
Equally, Simone Inzaghi’s side are out to win their fourth European Cup and end a 13-year wait for a Champions League title, with their last coming in 2010 under Jose Mourinho.
As the sun sets in Istanbul on the eve of the final, Mail Sport’s Chris Sutton takes a look at how both teams could line up for the match.
Pep Guardiola (pictured front) can finally end his wait for a Champions League title with Man City on Saturday
Simone Inzaghi’s side can also earn their first European title since 2010 at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium on Saturday
Manchester City were pictured preparing for the match on Friday evening at the Ataturk Stadium
Manchester City (4-3-2-1) – Team Average 8.8
Ederson 9
Exceptional with his hands. Even better with his feet, as good as any midfielder. City feel safe with him in goal.
Kyle Walker 8.5
No sulking when Guardiola questioned his tactical nous. Simply buckled down and got better. Looks undroppable now.
Ruben Dias 8
City can send Stones into midfield because Dias is such a solid defender. He can hold the fort on his own.
Manuel Akanji 8.5
What a steal at £15million. Just look at his stats: 39 starts, 15 clean sheets, two trophies, and maybe a third on Saturday.
John Stones 9.5
I’ve loved watching Stones in his hybrid role. Clearly has a brilliant footballing brain. Others would have struggled.
Rodri 9
Guardiola snubbed his defensive midfielder in the 2021 Champions League final. He wouldn’t dare drop Rodri now.
Bernardo Silva 8
The Portuguese playmaker has flirted with leaving City, though they are better with him. Time for one last hurrah, perhaps.
John Stones (right) has been superb for Man City this season, excelling in particular during their FA Cup final win
Kevin De Bruyne spoke before their training session about how City ‘have a chance to close a chapter’ during by winning Saturday night’s match
Kevin De Bruyne 8
City’s chief creative officer. Inter will be petrified of De Bruyne because he is capable of magic in a millisecond.
Ilkay Gundogan 9
The little man for the big matches. Two goals in the FA Cup final was not a bad way to warm up for an electric evening in Istanbul.
Jack Grealish 9
Grealish wasn’t starting City’s biggest games last season, but he is now. The £100m man is ready for this final.
Jack Grealish, who signed for the club for £100million in 2021, looks ready for the final
Meanwhile, Erling Haaland (left) has light up the Premier League this season and his manager (right) said on Friday that he had ‘no doubts’ over the Norwegian’s ability to score goals
Erling Haaland 10
How could I give Haaland anything other than a 10? He’s made the Premier League look like an Under 10s division!
Pep Guardiola 9.5
Two trophies down, one to go. I’ve given him 9.5 but if City clinch the Treble I’ll rethink that score.
Inter Milan (3-5-2) – Team Average 7.6
Andre Onana 7.5
Steady shot-stopper but needs to have the game of his life if he wants to shut out City.
Matteo Darmian 7
Former Manchester United full back who can help protect his old club’s 1999 Treble legacy. Pressure is on.
Francesco Acerbi 8
On loan from Lazio, Acerbi is an uncompromising and rugged defender, albeit not the fastest in a footrace.
Inter Milan were also seen training at the Ataturk Stadium on Friday ahead of the final
The players were in fact, doused by water after the sprinklers went off during the training session
Alessandro Bastoni 7
Lefty who is difficult to dribble beyond and has been studying how Real Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger stifled Haaland.
Denzel Dumfries 8
How Inter deal with Grealish will be key and I’m sure we will see Dumfries dropping in to form a back-five barrier.
Nicolo Barella 8.5
Barella is box-to-box, brave and dynamic. He will be the most robust midfielder on show for Inter on Saturday.
Hakan Calhanoglu 7.5
Calhanoglu has a good eye for a pass but I suspect City will suffocate Inter in the middle of the park.
Henrick Mkhitaryan 7
Nice on the ball. We saw that in England. But the issue is that Inter will not see much of the ball.
Nicolo Barella (front-middle) could be an imperative cog in the Inter Milan midfield on Saturday
Lautaro Martinez could be a huge threat for City on Saturday and is on the cusp of winning the World Cup and Champions League in the same season
Former Man United man, Matteo Darmian, can stop Man City winning the treble on Saturday night
Federico Dimarco 7.5
All energy on the left wing. He will drop back like Dumfries, but flying forward on the counter is key.
Edin Dzeko 7
Doesn’t get mentioned enough that he scored the QPR equaliser before the ‘Aguerooo’ winner — City will know he is dangerous.
Lautaro Martinez 8.5
Scorer of 28 goals for Inter this season, twice as many as the next man. Elite finisher but needs service tonight.
Simone Inzaghi 8
Stepping out of his brother Filippo’s shadow as a manager. Cup specialist is set for his biggest game.