Manchester City couldn’t break down sturdy Inter Milan, with both sides settling for a draw at the Etihad Stadium.
Several chances fell to both sides all through the affair, but neither Manchester City nor Inter Milan had the quality needed to submerge the other.
It was a highly combative encounter with both teams being neck and neck with each other at the Etihad Stadium.
The encounter was a tale of two teams experiencing incoherence in the attacking third, either due to poor decision-making or defensive solidity from the opposition.
Manchester City had many chances to put themselves ahead, but the defense of Inter Milan were astute across spells in the affair, with Erling Haaland being kept quiet all through the encounter.
Inter Milan also had their chances, but they were also curtailed by magnificent defending from the Cityzens and a breathtaking goalkeeping display by Ederson Moraes.
Kevin De Bruyne Sustains Injury During The Encounter Involving Manchester City And Inter Milan
The biggest highlight from the game was an injury to Kevin De Bruyne, with Manchester City now sweating over the midfielder’s fitness ahead of their home clash against Arsenal.
De Bruyne picked up a knock late on in the first period and he was witnessed before the commencement of action in the second half, with Ilkay Gundogan coming on in his stead.
Phil Foden was also introduced ahead of the restart of action in the second half, with Savinho being taken off.
The duo of Henrikh Mhykitaryan and Lautaro Martinez were also brought on for Inter Milan in place of Marcus Thuram and Piotr Zielinski.
Nine minutes after the hour mark, Manchester City was involved in an intricate passing movement with Gvardiol, Grealish, and Gundogan, and that afforded Foden a clean sight of goal.
Unfortunately, Phil Foden’s subsequent low strike went straight to Inter goalie Yann Sommer, who held the ball and halted it from heading into the back of the net.
Fifteen minutes before the expiration of the game, Inter Milan boss Simeone Inzaghi sent on Denzel Dumfries for Matteo Darmian, while also taking off Yann Aurelio Bisseck for Benjamin Pavard.
Inter Milan Wasted Their Biggest Chance Of The Game
In the 76th minute, Inter Milan recorded their biggest chance of the game, but they couldn’t take full advantage of the opportunity, with Mhykitaryan smashing an effort over the bar from barely six yards out.
Both sides huffed and puffed in search of a decisive goal, but they didn’t have the necessary ingredient to get the winner.
Manchester City And Inter Milan In The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League Campaign
Manchester City and Inter Milan commence the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League campaign with a hard-fought draw and that sees them occupy the 11th and 12th spot respectively on the standings.
Pep Guardiola’s side return to action in the UEFA Champions League with a clash against Slovan Bratislava on October 1, 2024, while Inter Milan trade tackles with Red Star Belgrade on October 1, 2024.
The Cityzens will feel like the biggest losers from the game, having seen midfielder Kevin De Bruyne exiting the pitch due to injury, with the severity of the knock yet to be ascertained.
Due to the injury problem, De Bruyne could be unavailable for Pep Guardiola’s side in their clash against Arsenal on September 22, 2024.
Kevin De Bruyne missed 41 games during the 2023/24 season and the knock against the Nerazzuri is the 27th injury he has picked up in his career.
Moreover, Manchester City’s draw with Inter Milan meant that the Cityzens are now on a 24-game unbeaten run without a defeat in the UEFA Champions League.
That tally is only bettered by neighbors Manchester United, who went on a 25-match unbeaten run in the competition between 2007 and 2009.
Additionally, it is also the first game Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has failed to score this season, having netted in their previous 4 matches.
Who Won The Player of the Match Award For The Match Between Inter Milan And Manchester City?
Meanwhile, midfielder Nicolo Barella was handed the Player of the Match award for the game following his stellar display in the middle of the park for Inter Milan.
Results From Other UEFA Champions League Matches Played On Wednesday, September 18, 2024
- Bologna 0-0 Shakhtar Donetsk
- Sparta Prague 3-0 Red Bulls Salzburg
- Celtic 5-1 Slovan Bratislava
- Club Brugge 0-3 Borussia Dortmund
- Manchester City 0-0 Inter Milan
- Paris Saint Germain 1-0 Girona
