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Champions League final: Are Man City one of the competition's best ever teams?

The Champions League final takes place this Saturday, and with it comes a chance for Manchester City and Inter Milan to put their names down in the history books.

For Inter, it would represent a third win in Europe's premier competition and their first since 2009/10, while City are on the brink of their long coveted first ever Champions League title, and a treble that would replicate Manchester United's efforts of 1998/99.

Some of the best teams in the history of club football have won the competition, and we have picked out some of the best sides to win the tournament since it was rebranded in 1992.

WhatManchester City v Inter Milan - 2023 Champions League final
WhereAtaturk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey
When20:00, Saturday 10th June
How to watchBT Sport, BT Sport YouTube
OddsManchester City 9/20, Draw 15/4, Inter Milan 11/2

Man United (1998/99)

Sir Alex Ferguson's 1998/99 Manchester United side went unbeaten throughout their entire 11-game Champions League campaign, with knockout stage wins over Juventus and Inter Milan culminating in a dramatic victory over Bayern Munich in the final.

Trailing 1-0 in the 90th minute, Teddy Sheringham equalised for the Red Devils before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer struck the late winner in Barcelona to break Bayern hearts.

The victory formed part of a treble for Ferguson's men and was just United's second ever win in Europe's top competition.

Barcelona (2010/11)

Barcelona won the Champions League twice under Pep Guardiola's guidance, first in 2009, but it was their second victory under the manager in 2011 that captured the footballing imagination.

After topping their group, Barca got the better of Arsenal and Shakhtar Donetsk in the first two knockout stages and would face rivals Real Madrid in the last four.

The Catalan club got the better of their El Clasico opponents 3-1 on aggregate to set up a final against Manchester United at Wembley.

With Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi at the peak of their powers, Guardiola's side wiped the floor with the Red Devils, securing a 3-1 win.

Messi, Pedro and David Villa scored, but it was the Argentinian who took all the plaudits, with a performance some consider the best ever in a Champions League final.

Real Madrid (2016/17)

Real Madrid are the record winners of the European Cup/Champions League, taking the crown an impressive 14 times.

Their success in the competition was visible throughout the 2010s as they took home the 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018 titles.

The middle of those three straight victories was arguably the most impressive as Los Blancos got the better of Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich in the last 16 and quarter-finals before seeing off rivals Atletico, who they had beaten in the final a year before, in the last four.

That set up a final against Juventus in Cardiff that Madrid won comprehensively, with Cristiano Ronaldo netting a brace and Casemiro and Marco Asensio both also on the scoresheet.

Ronaldo also top-scored in the competition that season with 12 goals and was an integral part of Real cementing themselves as the kings of the competition across that decade.

Man City (2022/23)

For a long time, Manchester City have been looking to establish themselves as the dominant force in European football.

The Citizens have managed to win five of the last six Premier League titles to assert their dominance on the English game.

However, City have fallen short in Europe’s premier competition and will be hoping that this year will be different.

Guardiola's side were beaten in the final by Chelsea two seasons ago, but are set to go off as one of the shortest price favourites in the history of Champions League finals against Inter Milan.

The Citizens were dominant winners over last year's holders Real Madrid in the semi-final, running riot in the second leg with a 4-0 victory over Carlo Ancelotti's side.

Now, Guardiola's men must do what they have failed to do before and seal a Champions League victory to potentially cement themselves as one of the strongest sides in the history of the competition.

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