Rodri fires Manchester City to a 1-0 win over Inter Milan to capture the Champions League trophy and complete a remarkable treble.
The Spaniard opened the scoring in the 68th minute with a rocket that fell to the midfielder inside the box that he placed firmly past two opposition players and into the back of the net.
Inter almost answered back immediately when Federico Dimarco’s looping header hit the bar then his headed rebound was blocked by the feet of Romelu Lukaku.
Lukaku had a golden opportunity to equalise in the 86th minute but Ederson denied him with some phenomenal reactions to secure victory and lift the Champions League trophy.
Here are the five talking points from the tightly contested final in Istanbul.
City capture Champions League
After six frustrating years in Europe, Manchester City have finally won the Champions League.
Defeat in the final to Chelsea two years ago and to Real Madrid in the semi-final last term โ Guardiola winning this elusive trophy with City was becoming increasingly unclear.
However, this time around, squad additions and blossoming profiles have seen the 52-year-old tactician deliver what he was brought in for with stunning style.
Treble winners
Champions League triumph means that City have won the treble.
The Citizens are the second men’s team in England to complete the remarkable accomplishment after Manchester United’s 1998-99 team.
It caps off a phenomenal season in which they chased down a youthful Arsenal side to the Premier League title and won the first-ever Manchester Derby FA Cup final.
As a result, Guardiola and his men have now written themselves into the history books โ joining some of the greatest teams in footballing history.
Rocket from Rodri
Rodri provided the difference in a contest with the finest of margins.
Manchester City struggled to break down a persistent Inter defence until the ball fell to their anchorman’s feet inside the box.
The 26-year-old dispatched the opportunity with conviction placing his effort into the right-hand side of the goal, which Onana could only watch ripple the back of his net.
Rodri’s Champions League final winner is his second-ever goal in the competition and one that will be remembered forever.
Pep delivers
Guardiola has had a remarkable reign with the Citizens โ and finally delivered a Champions League trophy.
He last won the competition in 2011 with Barcelona and also guided them to a treble two years earlier.
In the final, he got his tactics spot on by keeping City compact to keep the Inter attack at bay and adapt to injuries, including star man Kevin De Bruyne in the first half.
Ederson the hero
Inter Milan did well to stay within touching distance – but missed crucial chances and could not overwhelm Ederson.
The first came from Federico Dimarco with a looping header that rebounded off the bar and back to the Italian โ but his second effort was denied by Lukaku.
Lukaku then had a chance of his own when Robin Gosens crossed to Inter’s No90 in the 88th minute and he headed goalwards but Ederson stood strong to save with his leg.
Then in stoppage time, a final-ditch cross into the box found Gosens for a header โ once again, the Brazilian international maintained focus to deny the shot and win City the Champions League.
