The experience and solidity of defender Francesco Acerbi played a crucial role in containing Erling Haaland in the Champions League final. The match held at Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey on June 10th witnessed an intriguing battle between Haaland and Acerbi. Prior to kick-off, Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport deemed it an uneven contest. Acerbi, a 35-year-old Italian center-back who had fought cancer, was initially seen as a backup option when he joined Inter on loan from Lazio. However, he gradually earned a starting position after Milan Skriniar rejected a contract extension and reached an agreement to join PSG as a free agent in the summer of 2023.
Acerbi, 13 years older than Haaland, had been in scintillating form, scoring 52 goals in 52 appearances across all competitions this season. In the Premier League alone, the Norwegian forward netted 36 times, breaking the record for the most goals scored in a season previously held by Alan Shearer and Andy Cole (both with 34 goals). Haaland also topped the charts in the Champions League, scoring 12 goals and claiming the prestigious European Golden Shoe, awarded to the top scorer in domestic leagues.
Acerbi's strategy against Haaland was not to engage in fierce duels for the ball but to play cautiously and prioritize safety. His experience and strong defensive partnership with Alessandro Bastoni prevented Haaland from establishing connections with his surrounding teammates. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, after Haaland's off-target shot in an offside position in the 3rd minute, he "plunged into his darkest period." His most dangerous opportunity came in the 27th minute when he received a through pass from Kevin De Bruyne and took a shot in the correct position, only to be thwarted by goalkeeper Andre Onana. Acerbi had to rush forward to block De Bruyne, while Bastoni provided close marking, disrupting Haaland's balance and denying him the most comfortable shooting position. This was the only instance where Acerbi "allowed" Manchester City's striker a glimpse of the goal.
In the 40th minute, Acerbi headed away a ball aimed towards Haaland from a throw-in, loudly proclaiming, "I'm not afraid."
In the second half, with De Bruyne off the field due to injury and Acerbi persistently shadowing Haaland, the Norwegian forward's impact diminished, and he failed to register any significant attempts on goal. Similar to the first half, Haaland only managed to bypass Acerbi once in the 67th minute, but he was immediately intercepted by Bastoni's covering defense.
In the 81st minute, Acerbi executed a well-timed clearance, preventing Haaland from taking a shot. Gazzetta dello Sport interpreted this effort from the Italian defender as a message that said, "You may be winning, but I won't give up, and I'll continue to defend as if there's no tomorrow."
On a day when Haaland struggled to make an impact, it was Rodri's shining moment that sealed the Champions League final for Manchester City. The Spanish midfielder surged forward, firing a powerful shot into the right post from Bernardo Silva's pass in the 68th minute. With this goal, Manchester City clinched their first-ever Champions League title, emulating the historic treble achieved by their cross-city rivals, Manchester United, in the 1998-1999 season.
Gazzetta dello Sport commented, "Manchester City crowned champions of the Champions League, but Acerbi overshadowed Haaland—a prolific goal scorer with astounding statistics, dubbed the 'unstoppable Thunder God from the North.' Acerbi's performance in the final muted Haaland like an individual accolade."
