Chris Bevan
BBC Sport reporter

Image source, PA Media

It turns out Erling Haaland is not Manchester City's first star striker to be famous for marking important wins by strutting around in his underpants afterwards., external

If City beat Inter Milan to win the Champions League for the first time, the aftermath could witness echoes of their first and - so far - only European triumph, 53 years ago.

According to popular legend, City's celebrations after lifting the European Cup Winners' Cup in April 1970 involved the matchwinner, England forward Francis Lee, dancing on a piano wearing only his briefs.

After talking to Lee, it turns out that particular tale is only partially true but there were plenty of unusual elements to City's success that were completely factual.

They include why the game was watched by a record number of travelling fans from England, but by absolutely no-one back home - although it still gave commentary legend Barry Davies his big break at the BBC...

Read more here.

Damien in Ballymena: 2005 - Overwhelming favourites AC Milan v underdogs Liverpool in the Ataturk. 2023 - Overwhelming favourites Man City v underdogs from Milan in the Ataturk. Watching from the same sofa on both occasions. Sofa has aged better than me. Just saying.

Image source, Getty Images

The winners of the Champions League has had a Croatian player feature for them in the final in nine of the last 10 seasons.

Inter Milan's Marcelo Brozovic today becomes the first Croatian player to captain a side in a European final.

BBC Radio 5 Live

European football expert Guillem Balague insists Manchester City are taking nothing for granted, despite being named heavy favourites.

"This idea that Manchester City believe this is a done deal comes more from the pundits and fans," he added.

"But Manchester City have a bunch of fears relating to this game. Inter don't need to have the ball and defend much better than Manchester United.

"The word that has been repeated the most in the camp is 'patience' and just keep trying.

"It is going to be a very hard game, that is how it has been analysed. They are being very respectful."

M: I feel for Walker. Out of the squad he's been one of the top performers in the Champions League this season, especially in the semi-final. And how he's been cast on to the bench. Shame.

Manchester City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says the decision to pick Nathan Ake instead of Kyle Walker was tactical - and not because of Walker's injury doubt earlier this week.

"He could be there," Guardiola told BT Sport of Walker. "It was really tough because Kyle is so important. For the way we want to defend and attack we needed a different type of player.

"Italian teams are competitors. Inter have really good patterns. The way they play is so clear. They are incredibly stable and aggressive. To defend and defend, they feel comfortable. It's cultural in Italy. I admire it. It's not easy to do it."

Graham: Watching the game in Kalamata, Greece. I might be going on that if we win.

Image source, .

Image source, Getty Images

Erling Haaland is looking to become the first Norwegian to score in the final since Ole Gunnar Solskjær, whose goal secured United the Treble in 1999.

"This is why they bought me of course, to get this, we don't have to hide that," Haaland told BBC sports editor Dan Roan.

"It would mean everything. I will do everything I possibly can to try to make it happen.

"It's my biggest dream and hopefully dreams do come true."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has had a stunning first season in English football since joining from Borussia Dortmund last summer.

He has broken the Premier League record for most goals in a season with 36 and has scored 52 times in all competitions at a rate of a goal every 78 minutes.

The Norway international has been named the Football Writers' Association (FWA) men's footballer of the year and is the first player to win the Premier League Player and Young Player of the year awards in the same season.

His minutes per goal ratio in Europe stands at an incredible 63 minutes, throughout spells with City, Dortmund and Red Bull Salzburg.

He failed to score in the semi-finals, making this his longest drought at two games, but his 12 goals are the joint most in a Champions League season for an English club alongside Ruud van Nistelrooy for Manchester United in 2002-03.

Asked whether he was worried about Haaland's supposed drought, Guardiola responded: "If you have doubts about Erling Haaland scoring goals, you are a lonely person.

"I don't have any doubts. He will be ready to help us win the Champions League."

Image source, BBC Sport

BBC Radio 5 Live

Italian football expert James Horncastle on the Euro Leagues podcast: "I was in Milan on Monday and the players were very relaxed.

"The main question is, are you being underestimated? It seems the final has already been won.

"They didn't expect to be here and there is a lot less pressure on them.

"For Inter, they were laughing, joking. [It's] maybe not a free hit but they go into it in a really good frame of mind."

Luke: Lots of people saying Inter's best chance is to hang in there, but why should they? Why would you play all those games, travel all those miles simply to just hang in there? I’d be going for this, Man City struggle when teams do that.

Image source, Getty Images

Three-time European champions Inter finished third in Serie A and won the Coppa Italia for a second successive season.

They have kept a tournament-high eight clean sheets in 12 Champions League matches so far, with goalkeeper Andre Onana their standout performer.

Simone Inzaghi's side also possesses a potent strike force. Led by Lautaro Martinez, who has 28 goals and 11 assists from 58 games this season, the Italians also have former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko and Romelu Lukaku - who has not started a game in Europe this season - to call upon.

Inter Milan

Inter Milan head coach Simone Inzaghi: "It's my most important ever match, but I believe that's also the case for my players.

"We have players like Dzeko and Onana who have played in semi-finals. It repays all our effort as it's been a long, hard year."

Argentina forward Lautaro Martinez added: "I hope we can turn in a great performance, get a result and take the trophy to Milan.

"It's a huge dream for us. It's a very difficult one to fulfil but we are one step away.

"Personality is paramount. You must put all your heart into it, you have to have the will.

"We've brought that kind of spirit back to Inter, it had been missing for a while. I ask for personality and courage from us."

Carl: Looking out over the hills of East Tennessee with slow cooked baby back ribs and a gathering of my American neighbours and friends to whom I shall have to explain every detail of what is about to transpire (bless their hearts)!

Image source, .

Image source, BBC Sport

Pep Guardiola will become the first manager in history to win the Treble twice if his Manchester City side beat Inter Milan.

Having already achieved the holy grail of league title, domestic cup and European glory with Barcelona in 2009, Guardiola and his City players are one win away from becoming the 10th team to ever achieve the feat.

But, win or lose in Istanbul on Saturday, Guardiola is already the greatest coach football has ever known.

Not because he wins things - 16 major trophies and counting - but because he has changed football.

Read more here.

Kevin de Bruyne jokes with reporters as he is asked whether it was love at first sight with team-mate Erling Haaland because of their chemistry on the field.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Build-up is under way on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Steve Crossman is in the chair and you can listen to all the action by pressing the play icon at the top of this page.

Chris Sutton
Former Chelsea striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think if you're a City player in that dressing room, they know they are the superior team.

They just have to relax, play their football, and if they do that they'll win convincingly.

Anon: Outside the Etihad. Here for The Weeknd concert. Come on Inter...

Image source, .