Rodri breaks Internazionale resistance to seal Manchester City’s treble glory

For Manchester City, it was the crowning glory, the trophy they have craved to complete the ultimate set. It is often said that clubs must suffer before they win the Champions League and how City have done so, especially during the Pep Guardiola years when domestic dominance has brought no guarantees in Europe’s elite and most capricious competition.

They suffered some more here, Internazionale pushing them all the way, much further than many had expected, all the way to the last action. The team that finished third in Serie A were the equal of City for much of a high-stress night in Istanbul and they would depart with bitter regrets, the fine margins against them.

City know the feeling. This was the occasion when it all went for them, especially when their goalkeeper, Ederson, saved them not once but twice at the death.

Simone Inzaghi had introduced Romelu Lukaku in the second half and there was certainly a script to be written by the former Manchester United striker.

He could not do it, blowing a gilt-edged header in the 89th minute when unmarked in front of goal, the effort too close to Ederson, whose reaction save with his legs was nevertheless of the highest order.

On to the very last. Inter won a corner, Inzaghi waved his goalkeeper, André Onana, forward and, when the ball came over, the substitute Robin Gosens flicked a header towards the top of the net. Again, Ederson was equal to it, throwing up a hand to tip over and that is when everything seemed to descend into a blur, the City players streaming up to the far end where their supporters were housed, those in Inter’s black and blue slumping to the turf. Gosens lay prone, his face in the turf, for what felt like an age.

The full-time whistle had gone, the