Man City vs Inter Milan LIVE: Champions League result and reaction as hosts play out goalless draw
Manchester City 0-0 Inter Milan: Pep Guardiola’s side were frustrated by their Italian visitors
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Manchester City kicked off their Champions League campaign with a home stalemate against Inter Milan at the Etihad Stadium in a rematch of the 2023 final.
A tight affair left the hosts frustrated and unable, ultimately, to break down a strong defensive effort from the Italian side as Ilkay Gundogan squandered two late headed chances. Until then, Inter had looked largely calm and in control as they managed to stymie Manchester City in a 0-0 draw, continuing an unbeaten start to the season for the Milan club.
There was an injury worry for Pep Guardiola, though, as Kevin de Bruyne failed to re-emerge after the interval having appeared to sustain an issue late in the first half. The Premier League champions host likely title rivals Arsenal on Sunday and could be without their captain.
Each side take a point apiece from their opening outing in this newly revamped tournament format. Each side will play an initial eight game, with the top eight in the league table automatically qualifying for the next round and a further 16 progressing to the play-off round.
Re-live all the action from the Etihad Stadium with our live blog below:
Manchester City vs Inter Milan
This revamped competition really is going to be a slog, eight fixtures for each of the entrants to negotiate between now and the end of January. Both of these two have rather significant games in the league on Sunday: Manchester City facing Arsenal; Inter in a Milan derby) - will that have any bearing on their approaches?
Manchester City vs Inter Milan
Lee Carsley is at the Etihad tonight, the England manager casting his eye over Rico Lewis and Jack Grealish in the Manchester City ranks after the pair impressed internationally earlier this month. Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, has suggested ahead of kick off that Rodri is unlikely to last 90 minutes as the Spanish midfielder makes his first start of the season.
Guardiola on Inter Milan
Pep Guardiola was full of praise for Man City’s opponent’s tonight when he addressed the media at Tuesday’s pre-match press conference.
“Historical team and incredible mentality,” the City boss said. “They are built to win every single game and to win every competition. Last year they won a lot and that means in the mindset of the players they can do it, which is similar to us.
“They have good high pressing and go man to man so they are similar to Brentford [in that regard] and after they defend with typical Italian mentality that they have to suffer. They are also strong in set pieces. Incredible qualities.
“Good guys from second line, especially [Nicolo] Barella. I don’t know if he will be fit tomorrow but every time from [Federico] Dimarco crosses arrive with four or five players in the box.
“You cannot reach the Champions League final and win Serie A with 90 percent of the same players if you don’t have something special.”
‘We know what we have to do’ says Guardiola
Pep Guardiola says his players know what they need to do during the league phase of this Champions League campaign and that they may need to adjust against Inter tonight.
“It’s not about inspiration or emotion – I am so cold on that.” he said, “The players have to know what they have to do. They have to adjust something. The way [Inter] attack is so difficult to control. It’s the first game of an eight-game group stage. We know what we have to do.”
“We [look to] win our first game and then the second one and see what happens. In the last games, [we will] take a look. Like in the Premier League, we will look at the table in the future. We have to try to win our games at home; otherwise, anything can happen.”
City watched 2023 final to prepare for tonight’s match
Manchester City midfielder Rodri admitted that the squad watched the 2022/23 Champions League final between the two teams in the build-up to tonight’s match.
He said: “We watched the game [on Monday], analysing them because they haven’t changed much in the way they play. It was great to see it back. This is football – it was a great time and now life goes on. We need to move on and try to start as well as possible in the new competition.
“I am very happy for everything that’s happened to me in recent years. What we’ve won and to win with my country at Euro 2024 is a dream. It’s a consequence of working hard, consistency and never giving up.”
Erling Haaland set new scoring challenge ahead of reaching Man City landmark
Pep Guardiola said he is fine if Erling Haaland does not improve any more as the forward is set to bring up his Manchester City century at record-breaking pace.
Guardiola admitted he did not expect Haaland to be this prolific as the Norwegian, who has nine goals in his four Premier League matches this season, could get his 100th City goal in Wednesday’s Champions League tie against Internazionale.
Haaland has only played 103 games for City, putting him on pace to reach his hundred even quicker than Cristiano Ronaldo did when his first 100 goals for Real Madrid came in 105 appearances.
Erling Haaland set new scoring challenge ahead of reaching Man City landmark
Haaland has the chance to score his 100th goal for Manchester City in their Champions League opener against Inter
‘This isn’t redemption time’
Inzaghi added that his team aren’t looking for ‘redemption’ after losing to Man City in the final.
He said: “We are aware this isn’t redemption time. I have no regrets after the final in Istanbul – the lads gave all they had. Of course we were heartbroken, but it was single episodes that determined the result, as often happens in football.”
Pre-match thoughts from Inter Milan boss
Simone Inzaghi, the Inter manager says his team ‘cannot wait’ to face Manchester City this evening and that the match will not be a repeat of the 2023 final.
Inzaghi said: “We cannot wait. This won’t be a rematch of that [2023] final, that was another story. It will be our first game in the league phase and we want to do our best.
“We know they are tough opponents – one of the best in the world. We need to play well in both phases, trying to help each other out. They have very skillful players.”
What is the new Champions League format?
Instead of 32 competing sides being divided into eight groups of four, all 36 teams in this year’s Champions League will form a single league. Each entrant will play four games at home and four games away for a total of eight fixtures, two more than under the previous format. These eight encounters will be with eight different opponents.
The top eight sides in the league after the competition’s first phase will progress directly to the last-16. Teams placed ninth to 24th will have to negotiate a play-off round, while teams that finish 25th or lower will be eliminated from all European competition.
The 36 clubs will be seeded into four different pots based on their individual club coefficient at the start of the season. Each team will face two sides from each pot, one at home and one away. Pot 1 will include defending champions Real Madrid and the other strongest club sides by Uefa coefficient.
Manuel Akanji concerned about extra workload
Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji has voiced his concerns about the expanded format of the Champions League this season.
City, the 2023 winners, begin their latest European campaign as Inter Milan visit the Etihad Stadium.
The Switzerland international said: “It’s getting more complicated with the league. You play different teams, and then Inter don’t have the same opponents as us. It’s just got bigger, more games.
“Then we have the Club World Cup at the end of the season. It’s just game after game and I don’t know how it will work out over the next couple of years.
“It’s so tough, you don’t just think about this season – but also next season. When do we do holidays? There are no breaks in winter.
“If we are lucky we get two weeks and then we need to be back and into next season. There’s no end to it. I don’t know how it works out. Maybe I’ll retire at 30!”
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