Manchester City and Inter Milan go head-to-head at the Etihad Stadium in their opening game of the Champions League campaign.
By Matt Smith
The two teams face each other for the first time since the 2023 final in what is now the first match under the new format of the competition.
It’s been a perfect start to the 2024/2025 campaign for Pep Guardiola’s side who are yet to drop a point in the Premier League. Continuing their form into the European competition will be imperative for the Citizens, and they kickstart their Champions League campaign at home, a place where they are unbeaten in 46 matches.
Erling Haaland is the obvious danger man on the night with the Norwegian already having plenty of Champions League experience under his belt at a young age across spells with Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund and Man City. Haaland is in unfathomable form at the moment, scoring nine goals in just four matches in the Premier League.
Guardiola’s men have been creating chances at ease so far this season, producing 9.3 xG in their opening Premier League fixtures. City will be hoping to replicate their form in the Champions League as they look to improve on their quarter-final exit to Real Madrid last term.
Inter have endured an inconsistent start to the campaign, sitting in third place with two wins and two draws from their opening four matches in Serie A. Although yet to lose, Simone Inzaghi will be disappointed to have dropped points to Genoa and Monza already this campaign.
Although usually a possession-dominant side, keeping 60.8% of the ball in Serie A this season, Inzaghi may have to adapt his strategy against City. When the two sides last met, Guardiola’s men were in control of the possession, but Inter showed a real threat in attack, creating four big chances and producing six shots on target.
Inter will be hoping Marcus Thuram can continue his fine form from Serie A with the French attacker scoring four times already this term. Regularly partnering Lautaro Martínez in attack, Thuram has stolen the limelight so far, but it’s a centre-forward duo that has all the tools to cause plenty of problems for Man City on Wednesday.
We’re all set for an enticing showdown as both teams look to get points on the board early on in the Champions League, while Inter have the added spice as they seek revenge for the 2023 final defeat in Istanbul.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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