Inter Milan study footage of Rudiger in bid to control Haaland

Inter Milan have been studying footage of Real Madrid star Antonio Rudiger as they attempt to stop Erling Haaland in the Champions League Final.

Haaland has 52 goals in as many matches this season and admitted in a recent interview that Manchester City had bought him to deliver European club football’s greatest prize.

City are one step away from doing so but Inter intend to follow the example of Rudiger, who kept Haaland quiet when Madrid drew 1-1 with City in the first leg of the semi-final. The German did not play in the return game, which City won 4-0.

‘Haaland says City bought him to win the Champions League and that says everything,’ said Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni. ‘But it’s Manchester City v Inter, not Haaland v Inter.

‘I have seen a video of Rudiger in the semi-final. He managed to contain Haaland very well so maybe that’s an example we can use. We will try to copy what he did.

‘Are we afraid? We should be afraid of assassins or other bad people, not footballers. Saying you’re afraid is a mistake. You have to be as brave as you can.

‘We know City are a strong team who can cause problems when they get close to goal. We will analyse them this week and prepare for them.’

Bastoni’s team-mate Federico Dimarco, a boyhood Inter fan, believes there is more pressure on City, who start huge favourites.

Pep Guardiola’s team are trying to win the Champions League for the first time in their history and complete the treble by doing so.

Dimarco added: ‘It would be a dream for us to win it. For City it’s an obsession.’