New Delhi: Manchester City will start their UEFA Champions League 2024-25 campaign against Serie A defending champions Inter Milan at the Etihad. It is the first time the two sides will meet since the 2023 Champions League final, where City won the tournament for the first time.
In the Premier League, Manchester City are the only side this season to have won all four of their games. However, Brentford did test City when Yoane Wissa stunned Citizens with a goal in just 22 seconds. It was again Erling Haaland whose brilliant finish helped Citizen register a 2-1 win. Haaland’s brace in the game now puts his goal tally to nine goals from this season as he moves to 99 goals for City from just 103 appearances across all competitions.
Pep Guardiola’s side also remains unbeaten in the Etihad Stadium for 46 games now. This season, they have more games, and it is a concern that the players have previously raised, too. They will play three games in three competitions at their home this week, and the season will only get more intense from here. Yet they will hope to have a strong start to the season as they start their campaign in the new format of the Champions League.
Inter Milan have started their campaign in the Serie A with two draws and two wins, with their last game ending in a draw against Monza. They looked more like a team staring at their first defeat of the season, with Dany Mota scoring in the 81st minute until Denzel Dumfries equalised in the 88th minute.
Manager Simone Inaghi expressed his disappointment later and pointed out the missed chances in the game. This week they will first have to face City in the Champions League before their Serie A rivals AC Milan take on them in the weekend. In the Champions League, they have won just once in their previous nine opening fixtures.
Milan will be looking to settle their scores over their 2023 Champions League fellow finalists when Inter take the Etihad pitch. They have won their last four away games against different English clubs, including Newcastle United, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool. They will be looking to become the fourth side to win at least five English sides, with Barcelona winning against seven and both Real Madrid and Bayern Munich winning against five.
Team News
Man City is still without its attacker Oscar Bobb, who is out with a leg fracture, and its defender Nathan Ake, who is ruled out until mid-October due to a muscle injury. Guardiola may give Rodri his first start of the season, having played 45 minutes against Brentford. Phil Foden will also push to feature in the starting XI, having been left as an unused substitute in the previous game.
Haaland, with his 41 goals from 39 Champions League appearances, will definitely lead the line. It is yet unclear if Guardiola will keep Kyle Walker at right-back or move Rico Lewis from left-back and bring back Josko Gvardiola. This will make Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, and John Stones contenders to start at centre-back.
For Inter, Federico Dimarco and Marko Arnautovic were not part of the first-team training and are likely to miss the game in Etihad. Tajon Buchanan will also miss the game as he is still recovering from a fractured tibia he sustained while playing for Canada in Copa America.
Inzaghi could bring back a few of his star players, including defender Alessandro Bastoni and the midfielder duo of Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolo Barella. Barella was an unused substitute in the previous game, having recently recovered from his sinus surgery. Carlos Augusto will likely replace Dimarco in the left wing. Marcus Thuram has been the star of the first four Serie A games with four goals and two assists for the side and will feature alongside his captain, Lautaro Martinez, who hasn’t scored yet in his three appearances this season.
Predicted lineups
Manchester City: Ederson; Lewis, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Rodri, Kovacic; Bernardo, De Bruyne, Grealish; Haaland
Inter Milan: Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Augusto; Thuram, Martinez
When, where, and how to watch the Manchester City vs Inter Milan match in India?
The Manchester City vs Inter Milan UEFA Champions League 2024/25 match will be telecast live on Sony Sports Network in India. Fans can tune into the Sony Sports Ten 5 at 12:30 am to catch the action. Live streaming of the Champions League 2024/25 will be available on the SonyLIV app and website.
Early predictions
In the form that Manchester City has started, they have the upper hand over their opponent. At Etihad, City are a more dangerous side and can make Inter Milan’s life tough. The game could see City win 3-0 over Milan.
Reigning champions of Premier League, Man City are going to host the defending champions of Serie A, Inter Milan. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
