UCL: Inter hold City
Manchester City 0 - 0 Inter Milan
Manchester City were held to a goalless draw by a determined Inter side, as the Premier League champions experienced a frustrating start to their Champions League campaign.
Despite City controlling possession, Inter posed a real threat on the counter-attack, managing 10 shots in the first half – the most City have faced under Pep Guardiola in a home Champions League match, and more than they’ve conceded in any Premier League game.
City's chances were limited, with Phil Foden’s effort on his return the closest they came, while Ilkay Gundogan missed two promising headers. It was far from a vintage performance from Guardiola’s men. On the other hand, Inter’s manager, Simone Inzaghi, will likely be frustrated by his team’s inability to capitalise on their counter-attacking opportunities.
Champions League: 2024/2025 (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com)
A closer look at what happened in Manchester and the wider context of the result
The extended format of the new Champions League group stage may lessen some of the tension in this goalless result, but there's no doubt Guardiola and his team will be disappointed not to have opened their campaign with a win as they chase a second title.
Remarkably, this was the first time in 40 home group stage matches in the Champions League that City failed to score – and only the second time in two and a half years that they’ve drawn a blank at the Etihad Stadium, the other being a 0-0 stalemate against Arsenal last season.
City had their chances, particularly in the second half. Ilkay Gundogan, who came off the bench, missed two late opportunities. First, he directed a header straight at Inter keeper Yann Sommer, then moments from the final whistle, he sent another header over from Jeremy Doku’s cross with the goal at his mercy.
Sommer was outstanding throughout, as Inter lived up to their reputation as Champions League dark horses, having reached the final against City in 2023.
Adding to City's concerns was Kevin De Bruyne's injury, which saw him unable to return for the second half. With a crucial league clash against Arsenal at the Etihad on Sunday, Guardiola will be hoping it’s just a minor issue and that his decision to withdraw the Belgian was purely precautionary, given the importance of the top-of-the-table encounter.
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