Manchester City vs Inter Milan Review: Inter secure a draw at the Etihad Stadium

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Manchester City vs Inter Milan Review

Manchester City and Inter Milan played a scoreless draw in their champions league season opener at the Etihad Stadium. Both sides made cautious start in this match, which indicated that fans might have to wait for some excitement. With Lautaro Martínez on the bench, Marcus Thuram was the first to challenge the goalkeeper, shooting directly at Ederson. Meanwhile, Erling Haaland also sent a weak header towards Yann Sommer, as both teams found it difficult to create scoring opportunities early on.

Manchester City vs Inter Milan Review: Erling Haaland heads the ball during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Manchester City and Inter Milan at the Etihad Stadium on September 18, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Manchester City vs Inter Milan Review: Erling Haaland heads the ball during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Manchester City and Inter Milan at the Etihad Stadium on September 18, 2024 in Manchester, England.

Inter showed their threat on the counterattack, highlighted by Carlos Augusto’s effort that forced Ederson into a quick save at the near post. City struggled to create opportunities, and they faced a significant setback when their key midfielder Kevin De Bruyne had to leave the game due to an apparent muscle injury sustained towards the end of the first half. Phil Foden came on to replace him and brought some energy to the attack, but he also failed to challenge Sommer in the early part of the second half.

Manchester City vs Inter Milan Review: Kevin De Bruyne looks on after getting injured during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Manchester City and Inter Milan at Etihad Stadium on September 18, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Manchester City vs Inter Milan Review: Kevin De Bruyne looks on after getting injured during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Manchester City and Inter Milan at Etihad Stadium on September 18, 2024 in Manchester, England.

For the first 20 minutes after the break, neither team managed a shot on target, leading Simone Inzaghi to bring on Martínez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. This change sparked chances for both sides, with Foden and Joško Gvardiol being denied by Sommer’s excellent saves, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan missed a crucial opportunity for Inter, shooting over the bar after receiving a cross from Denzel Dumfries.

Manchester City vs Inter Milan Review: Yann Sommer in action during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Manchester City and Inter Milan at City of Manchester Stadium on September 18, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Manchester City vs Inter Milan Review: Yann Sommer in action during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Manchester City and Inter Milan at Etihad Stadium on September 18, 2024 in Manchester, England.

In the final moments, Martínez and Rodri attempted to make an impact, but neither was able to deliver the quality needed to secure a victory for their team. Additionally, İlkay Gündoğan missed a significant opportunity by heading the ball directly at Sommer from a short distance. With no goals scored by either team, the Man City have now only achieved five wins in their last 14 encounters with Italian teams. On the other hand, Inter can take pride in earning a point, as they remain unbeaten in five matches this season, even though they have yet to find their best form.

Manchester City vs Inter Milan Review: Ilkay Gundogan reacts after seeing his headed effort saved by Yann Sommer during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Manchester City and Inter Milan at City of Manchester Stadium on September 18, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Manchester City vs Inter Milan Review: Ilkay Gundogan reacts after seeing his headed effort saved by Yann Sommer during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Manchester City and Inter Milan at City of Manchester Stadium on September 18, 2024 in Manchester, England.

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