Inter suffocate Man City in stalemate

Manchester City endured a night of frustration as Pep Guardiola’s side opened their UEFA Champions League campaign with a 0-0 draw at home to Internazionale.

Simone Inzaghi’s Serie A champions proved a tough nut to crack as Erling Haaland’s quest to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo’s record as the quickest man to score 100 goals for a club (in 105 games) remains in the balance.

Indeed, the Norwegian has been in imperious form this season but his 104th match in a Citizens shirt was ultimately an unfulfilling one and he remains stuck on 99 as the visitors deservedly took a share of the spoils.

It could have been an even better night for the Nerazzurri, but they lacked the finish to cap a series of excellent counter-attacks with Marcus Thuram and former Manchester United players Matteo Darmian and Henrikh Mkhitaryan all wasting good openings.

City were subdued against an excellent Inter rearguard with substitutes Phil Foden and Ilkay Gundogan going closest for the hosts, who also saw Kevin De Bruyne replaced at the interval with a worrying injury ahead of the weekend.

Next up, City turn their focus to a top of the table clash at home to Arsenal on Sunday. Inter face neighbours AC Milan in Serie A.

This was a repeat of the 2023 final and given how impressive Inter were in securing the Serie A title last campaign, it was always going to be a significant test for Pep’s men.

On the whole, Inter will be delighted to have kept City and the Haaland goal roadshow quiet, but the visitors will also feel they should have marked a near-perfect gameplan by finishing off one of a number of excellent forays forward.

Given the new format of the UCL, it’s hard to see a result like this having much impact on two sides among the favourites for the title come next spring, but Guardiola will hope his team return to form quickly and in time for a weekend encounter with an Arsenal side that look like being the main rivals for their Premier League crown again this term.

The midfielder was at the heart of some of Inter’s best moves and also defended with real discipline, making one particularly outstanding block to prevent a probable goal in the first half. The Turkey international epitomised the work ethic of the entire team who made an exhilarating City side look ordinary for long spells.

MAN CITY: Ederson 7, Akanji 7, Dias 7, Gvardiol 7, Lewis 7, Rodri 7, Savio 7, Bernardo Silva 6, De Bruyne 6, Grealish 6, Haaland 6. Subs: Gundogan 7, Foden 7, Doku n/a.

INTER MILAN: Sommer 7, Bisseck 7, Acerbi 7, Bastoni 7, Darmian 7, Barella 7, Calhanoglu 8, Zielinski 7, Carlos Augusto 7, Thuram 6, Taremi 7. Subs: Mkhitaryan 6, Lautaro Martinez 6, Dumfries 6, Pavard 6, Frattesi n/a.

53’ – INTER MILAN CHANCE! Darmian is played in after a lovely move on the left, but he contrives to delay a shot inside the area when he surely has to pull the trigger. Instead, he back heels to no one and City survive! Inzaghi is fuming on the touchline too.

69’ – MAN CITY CHANCE! Foden fires straight at Sommer from eight yards out after slick one-touch play inside the box from Gundogan and Grealish.

76’ – INTER MILAN CHANCE! Henrikh Mkhitaryan rifles a glorious first-time chance over the bar crossbar after a fine run and cross down the right from Dumfries.

89’ – MAN CITY CHANCE! Gundogan leaps unmarked to meet a left-wing cross but flashes his header straight at Sommer.

90+4’ – MAN CITY CHANCE! Gundogan flings himself at Doku’s right-wing cross but can only power his diving header over the bar.