Pep Guardiola's record in European finals
Two down, one to go.
A rousing run of form guided Manchester City to their third-straight Premier League title in May, and Ilkay Gundogan's FA Cup final heroics mean the Cityzens are just one game away from history.
Rivals Manchester United had the chance to preserve their legacy by beating City at Wembley and ending their treble-dream, but Gundogan's brace means Simone Inzaghi's red-hot Inter are all that stands between City and becoming just the second team in English football history to win the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League in one season.
The final in Istanbul may well be the most significant of Guardiola's career. The Spaniard hasn't conquered Europe in over a decade, and his perpetual failures with City have cast a rather annoying cloud over his time in Manchester. Victory on Saturday will be the ultimate cathartic release.
Here's how Guardiola has fared in all of his European finals to date.
Pep Guardiola’s record in European finals
1. Barcelona 2-0 Man Utd (2009 UEFA Champions League final)
When it comes to completing the treble, Guardiola has been there and done it. But Pep's only treble triumph arrived 14 years ago after Barcelona beat Manchester United 2-0 in Rome.
The stage was set for a memorable contest after Andrea Bocelli filled the Olimpico with his angelic tones pre-match, but Barca ensured the bout didn't live in notoriety.
After an impressive start from Fergie's Red Devils, the Catalans didn't look back after Samuel Eto'o gave them the lead. Barça controlled the contest and Lionel Messi's iconic header took the game away from United in the second period.
2. Barcelona 1-0 Shakhtar Donetsk (2009 UEFA Super Cup)
Pep's first trip to the UEFA Super Cup ended in victory as Barcelona edged out UEFA Cup winners Shakhtar Donetsk, containing the likes of Willian and Fernandinho in their starting XI, 1-0 in Monaco.
This was a drab affair that wasn't decided until the 115th minute when Pedro, who would go on to play a leading role for Guardiola's Blaugrana, struck the game's only goal.
Barcelona's victory at the Stade Louis was their third Super Cup triumph in their history and first since 1997.
3. Barcelona 3-1 Man Utd (2011 UEFA Champions League final)
This was the game that allowed even Chelsea and Arsenal fans to fall a little bit in love with Barcelona.
Sir Alex Ferguson described the Catalans as "unplayable" in the 2011 Champions League final and declared Guardiola's side the "best team" he's ever come up against.
Barcelona were nothing short of joyous under the Wembley arch as they battered a pragmatic and savvy United team. Wayne Rooney cancelled out Pedro's opener, but this was a game Barca were never going to lose and second half efforts from Messi and David Villa ensured La Blaugrana won a deserved European title.
While there was no treble celebration in 2010/11, many regard this Barcelona side as the greatest of all-time.
4. Barcelona 2-0 Porto (2011 UEFA Super Cup)
Jose Mourinho's antics eventually took their toll on Guardiola throughout the 2011/12 season, but Barcelona's campaign got off to a positive start as they beat Mourinho's former employers, Porto, 2-0 in the Super Cup.
A fine Porto outfit, one which boasted the likes of Hulk, James Rodriguez, Fredy Guarin, Joao Moutinho, and Nicolas Otamendi, proved no match for Pep's stylistic juggernaut as Messi, once again on the scoresheet in a European final, opened the scoring before half-time.
The newly acquired Cesc Fabregas then confirmed Barcelona's victory with just a couple of minutes remaining.
5. Bayern Munich 2-2 (5-4p) Chelsea (2013 UEFA Super Cup)
Following a year's sabbatical, Guardiola succeeded Jupp Heynckes as Bayern manager ahead of the 2013/14 season.
Heynckes had guided Die Roten to a treble of their own the campaign prior, and thus, Guardiola took charge of his third UEFA Super Cup contest in the summer.
His spell at the club started with a 4-2 defeat against Borussia Dortmund in the DFL-Supercup, and Bayern's performance against Chelsea was far from convincing. A last-gasp strike from Javi Martinez in extra time took the game to penalties, where Bayern claimed a little bit of revenge for their shootout defeat in the 2012 Champions League final.
6. Man City 0-1 Chelsea (2021 UEFA Champions League final)
Guardiola had enjoyed a pristine record in European finals up until the 2021 Champions League final.
Man City were favoured over Chelsea in the competition's showpiece event in Porto, but in Thomas Tuchel, the Blues boasted a manager capable of outmanoeuvring the meticulous Spaniard.
And outmanoeuvre him he did.
Tuchel's masterplan worked a treat as Chelsea thwarted a flat City for the entirety of the final. N'Golo Kante dominated in midfield as Guardiola opted against starting a natural holding midfielder, and Kai Havertz struck the game's only goal just before the break when he rounded Ederson before finishing into an empty net.
It was, without question, one of the most disappointing defeats of Guardiola's career. City struggled to lay a glove on Tuchel's Chelsea.
Pep Guardiola's record in European finals - the numbers
- Games played: 6
- Wins: 4
- Draws: 1
- Losses: 1
- Goals scored: 10
- Goals conceded: 4
- Goal difference: +6