Manchester City vs Inter Milan – UEFA Champions League – Preview, Team News and Updates

The new and revamped UEFA Champions League is finally underway. After a three-month long wait, football fans around the globe can witness the spectacle of elite European football. And what a way to kick things off! Matchday 1 brings us a sizzling rematch of the 2022 Champions League final.

Tonight, reigning English champions Manchester City face off against Inter Milan in a clash that will bring back memories of their epic encounter in the 2022 Champions League final. It's the first time these two giants meet since that unforgettable night in Istanbul, where City claimed European glory. But make no mistake, Inter will be hungry for revenge, eager to rewrite the script and start their 2024/25 Champions League campaign on the front foot with a statement win. 

This isn't just any group-stage match—it's a battle of pride, redemption, and ambition. Both sides have a point to prove, and with such high stakes on Matchday 1, the stage is set for an absolute thriller. 

Manchester City vs Inter Milan – Match Preview 

It isn’t surprising that Manchester City have once again started the season in remarkable fashion. After four Premier League games the Citizens are the only club with a 100% record. They started the Prem season with a professional 2-0 win away at Chelsea. The Citizens followed that up by thrashing newly-promoted Ipswich Town 4-1. Erling Haaland played star turn, as he grabbed his first hattrick of the season. Just a week later, the Norwegian was at it again, scoring his second consecutive hattrick, as the Citizens raced to a 3-1 win over West Ham. 

However, Man City’s fourth game in the Prem wasn’t as straightforward. Within just 22 seconds of the kick-off, Pep Guardiola’s men found themselves with 1-0 deficit. A swift Brentford attack was finished off by Yoane Wissa after John Stones failed to clear the danger. The Etihad Stadium fell into a hush silence, but Haaland was on hand again to bail City out. The 24-year-old brace secured City all three points. Thanks to his heroics, Haaland now boasts an incredible tally of nine goals in just four Premier League matches. His form has been nothing short of unstoppable and Inter Milan's defense will certainly have their hands full tonight trying to contain him. Pep Guardiola’s men would like to translate their stellar domestic form into victories on the European stage. And what better way to do that than claiming a crucial win against Italian champions, Inter Milan? 

However, the Italian giants will provide a stern test for City. The Nerazzurri themselves have started the 2024/25 Serie A season in fine form. In four Serie A matches, Inter have accrued 8 points, winning two and drawing two. Having said that, Inter’s performance in their previous match versus Monza left a lot to be desired. The Nerazzurri needed an 88th minute Denzel Dumfries goal to secure a draw against a winless AC Monza side. If Inter want to start their Champions League campaign on a positive note, then they would have to deliver a significantly improved performance.  

Moreover, Simone Inzaghi’s men stand in the way of history, as Man City head into their midweek clash unbeaten in their last 23 Champions League games. If they manage to avoid defeat in their first two fixtures of this season’s tournament—against Inter and Slovan Bratislava on October 1—they’ll match the longest undefeated run in Champions League history, set by Manchester United (25 games) between 2007 and 2009. 

Manchester City vs Inter Milan – Team News and Updates 

Federico Dimarco (muscle injury) and Marko Arnautovic (unspecified issue) were absent from Inter’s first-team training on Tuesday, ruling them out for the trip to the Etihad. Tajon Buchanan will also miss out as he continues to recover from the fractured tibia he suffered while playing for Canada during the Copa America this summer. 

Simone Inzaghi is expected to bring back several key players for the clash, including defender Alessandro Bastoni and midfielders Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolo Barella. Barella, who recently underwent sinus surgery, was an unused substitute in Inter's last outing but should return to the starting lineup. With Dimarco sidelined, Carlos Augusto is likely to step in at left wing-back. Up front, Marcus Thuram—who's already bagged four goals and two assists in just four Serie A games—is set to lead the attack alongside captain Lautaro Martinez, who is still looking to score his first goal of the season after three appearances. 

On the other hand, Manchester City are still dealing with the absence of attacker Oscar Bobb due to a leg fracture, and defender Nathan Ake is ruled out until mid-October with a muscle injury. However, Pep Guardiola is expected to field star midfielder Rodri for his first start of the season after he got 45 minutes under his belt in City's win over Brentford. Phil Foden will also be pushing for a starting spot after being left on the bench in their last match. 

It’s almost certain that Erling Haaland—who has astonishingly netted 41 goals in just 39 Champions League appearances—will lead the line again. The main question lies in Guardiola’s defense. Will he stick with Kyle Walker at right-back or shuffle things around, moving Rico Lewis to the right and recalling Josko Gvardiol? Meanwhile, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, and John Stones are all competing for a spot at center-back. Whatever choices are made, City will be aiming to continue their dominant form both domestically and on the European stage. 

Manchester City vs Inter Milan – Kick-Off Time and Date 

The game is scheduled to take place on 19th September 2024 (Thursday) at Etihad Stadium in Manchester. The match will kick off at 12:30 AM (Indian Standard Time).  

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