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Manchester City kick off their Champions League campaign with a home fixture against Inter Milan in what should be an entertaining and exciting encounter at the Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola will be hoping to secure an early qualification for the knockout stages ahead of potentially tricky outings against Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain later in the competition.
City reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League last year before losing to Real Madrid in a penalty shootout and the 2023 champions will be hoping to better that finish during this newly revamped tournament. They will play an initial eight games and try to finish inside the top eight of a league table to automatically qualify for the next round. As one of the favourites, City should be able to get this done.
Inter Milan, who City famously defeated 1-0 in the 2023 Champions League final, are unbeaten in Serie A so far. They have won two and drawn two of their four games and sit second in the table. The Italian side are in good form and have the skills and history to challenge City.
Follow all the action from the Etihad Stadium with our live blog below:
Manchester City 0-0 Inter Milan, 81 minutes
And now Simone Inzaghi uses his final switch, with Hakan Calhanoglu making rather less hasty progress to the touchline. The midfielder has worked exceptionally hard tonight, doing his defensive work diligently. Davide Frattesi is on in his place.
Manchester City 0-0 Inter Milan, 79 minutes
Saved by Yann Sommer! Comfortable enough for the experienced goalkeeper as Josko Gvardiol lets fly from 20 yards at the end of a sweeping Manchester City move.
Doku is sent on for Bernardo Silva, who sprints off.
Manchester City 0-0 Inter Milan, 78 minutes
Still we wait, then, for an end to the deadlock. Jeremy Doku is being readied.
Manchester City 0-0 Inter Milan, 76 minutes
Fired over by Henrikh Mkhitaryan! Denzel Dumfries is released on a trademark sprint up the right and the right wing-back finds the right cross, through to Mkhitaryan via a flick of a Manchester City toe. The former Manchester United man is leaning back as he strikes, though, and blazes beyond Ederson’s crossbar.
Manchester City 0-0 Inter Milan, 74 minutes
A clever nutmeg from Jack Grealish leaves him wiped out by Nicolo Barella, perhaps fortunate to escape a booking.
Here are those two Inter changes: Yann Bisseck and Matteo Darmian are replaced by Benjamin Pavard and Denzel Dumfries, both starters at the weekend.
Manchester City 0-0 Inter Milan, 72 minutes
Pressure is just starting to build on the visitors, who are waiting to make two more changes. Matteo Darmian blocks a Jack Grealish drive behind.
Manchester City 0-0 Inter Milan, 70 minutes
Chances for Manchester City! Phil Foden should make more of his shooting chance with Yann Sommer able to keep it out a little too easily, before a driving run from Jack Grealish creates rather tougher opportunities for both Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan. Just two of Manchester City’s 16 effors have now forced Sommer into a save.
Manchester City 0-0 Inter Milan, 68 minutes
Jack Grealish is felled 35 yards or so out, wide on the left. Phil Foden and Ilkay Gundogan stand over the set piece as their centre-halves lumber up to provide targets. Foden’s cross is aimed at Erling Haaland’s head, but fails to make it to the bleach blonde bonce.
Richard Jolly at the Etihad Stadium fires across his latest missive: “Having held Lautaro Martinez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan back, Simone Inzaghi has sent both on. A bid for a winner or just looking for fresh legs? Either way, Inter have negotiated the first 20 minutes of the second half with few alarms. So far, they have had three times as many shots on target as City.”
Manchester City 0-0 Inter Milan, 65 minutes
A double change from Simone Inzaghi. Henrikh Mkhitaryan replaces Piotr Zielinski, and Lautaro Martinez steps in for Marcus Thuram. The Argentine striker takes the captain’s armband off Nicolo Barella.
Manchester City 0-0 Inter Milan, 64 minutes
Bernardo Silva slips in an underlapping Rico Lewis, but Barella is best-placed to collect his cut-back even as three Manchester City shirts circle.
It appears Inter Milan’s first alteration is imminent.
Source: independent.co.uk
