Close to the CL final stadium
Black smoke causes a stir
06/10/2023 8:52 p.m
Plumes of smoke drift past the Ataturk Olympic Stadium ahead of the Champions League final in Istanbul. According to media reports, a fire in the city area is said to be the cause of the dark clouds, which can also be observed from the arena.
Thick black smoke caused a stir ahead of the Champions League final in Istanbul. Over the Ataturk Olympic Stadium were two hours before kick-off of the game between Manchester City and Inter Milan (click here for our live ticker) Puffs of smoke could be seen, British media reported a fire and a fire brigade operation almost two kilometers from the arena. Apparently, a company site is said to have burned. The smoke had no effect on the preparations for the final.
On the sporty front: trainer star Pep Guardiola refrains from experiments in Istanbul. The Spaniard sends almost his best squad onto the pitch at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium, only the recently injured right-back Kyle Walker is initially only on the bench. Nathan Aké will replace him in the starting XI. The German international Ilkay Gündogan leads the English champions and FA Cup winners onto the field as captain. In attack, City’s hopes rest on the Norwegian goal machine Erling Haaland.
If they win, the “Skyblues” will have their first triple in the club’s history. For Guardiola, success would be the third in the Champions League. However, the first in twelve years since triumphing with FC Barcelona in the 2010/11 season.
As expected, the German national player Robin Gosens initially only sits on the bench at Inter. The recently injured midfielder Henrich Mchitarjan was not fit for the starting eleven in time, the former Dortmund player is replaced by Marcelo Brozović. In attack, Edin Dzeko is preferred to Romelu Lukaku, the former Wolfsburg player acts alongside Argentinian world champion Lautaro Martinez.