Inter wasted great opportunities to take the victory at the Etihad, but emerged with a very positive 0-0 draw against Manchester City in the Champions League opener.
This was a repeat of the showdown that decided the trophy in 2023, which City won 1-0, and was also a meeting between the reigning Champions of England and Italy. Federico Dimarco, Marko Arnautovic and Tajon Buchanan didn’t make the trip, with Lautaro Martinez not fully fit, so Mehdi Taremi played ahead of Sunday’s derby with Milan and Piotr Zielinski got his second start. The hosts missed Nathan Aké and Oscar Bobb, but had practically a full-strength side. They were wearing a new kit designed by Oasis star and lifelong Citizens fan Noel Gallagher.
See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.
Alessandro Bastoni made an early decisive block on Erling Haaland, then Marcus Thuram scuffed wide and Hakan Calhanoglu had a couple of long-range strikes cause problems, while Haaland’s header was an easy take for Yann Sommer.
The best early scoring opportunities were for Inter, as Nicolò Barella’s ferocious strike on the cleared corner was charged down and Thuram was offside when his header forced an Ederson save moments later.
Haaland scuffed just wide from the edge of the box and Thuram should’ve done better for Inter when drilling wide first-time, but Sommer and Calhanoglu combined to deny De Bruyne at the near post after a poor pass out from the back by the goalkeeper. De Bruyne sustained a knock during that move and was substituted at half-time.
Ederson was also called into action, using his legs to keep out the Carlos Augusto at the near post. Phil Foden came on at the break and fired just over, but Inter had a huge opportunity to take the lead on 53 minutes.
Taremi made an inspired pass to slice the defence open and send Matteo Darmian clear down the right, but instead of shooting, he decided on a back-heel flick that Barella was not expecting. That infuriated Simone Inzaghi on the touchline.
Lautaro Martinez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan were unleashed for the final 25 minutes, but Sommer had to make a tough save on Foden after a quick passing move, then Francesco Acerbi made the decisive block on Grealish.
There was another massive Inter chance on 76 minutes, Denzel Dumfries rolling across for fellow substitute Mkhitaryan to fire over from 12 yards, while Josko Gvardiol stung Sommer’s gloves with a ferocious attempt from the edge of the box.
Sommer was fortunate at the 89th minute that the Ilkay Gundogan free header was straight at him from Gvardiol’s cross, as Acerbi had mistimed the jump with his first error of the game.
Pep Guardiola’s reaction says it all…
İlkay Gündoğan with a golden opportunity to give Man City the lead 🕒
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/DyOKxkjUT5
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 18, 2024
With the last kick of the game, Gundogan’s diving header was over the bar from a Doku cross, giving Sommer a huge scare from six yards.
Manchester City 0-0 Inter
Match statistic
solid? Gundogan should’ve buried both free headers he had. the first was a tap in. Very lucky inter.
Good result given the gulf in resources. But yet again Inter will be disappointed not to beat MC. They matched them all the way in the CL final too.
Milan 1-3 Liverpool, was more solid Rosario! and in our own turf!
Inter were very good. They didn’t panic and were organised and disciplined. Remember this was against the team with the most resources in the entire football world. And with probably the best manager. And for the second time Inter were equal to the task.