Manchester City Held To Draw By Inter Milan In Champions League Opener

Manchester City’s Champions League campaign began with disappointment as they were held to a draw by a resolute Inter Milan at the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola’s side struggled to find their rhythm, exacerbated by an injury to Kevin de Bruyne that forced him off at half-time. Guardiola plans to consult with the club’s medical staff to assess the injury’s severity.

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Despite the challenges, Inter Milan earned their share of the spoils. In a rematch of the 2023 Champions League final, which City won in Istanbul, Inter displayed excellent organization and counterattacking prowess, particularly under pressure in the second half.

Erling Haaland, aiming for his 100th goal for City, was largely contained, and both teams had opportunities to secure a win but failed to capitalize.

Phil Foden, who replaced the injured De Bruyne in the second half, saw a shot saved by Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer, who also denied Josko Gvardiol.

Inter squandered several promising chances, with Matteo Darmian opting for a backheel instead of a straightforward shot and Henrikh Mkhitaryan missing from close range, much to coach Simone Inzaghi’s frustration.

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City nearly snatched a dramatic late victory as Foden’s shot was parried by Sommer and Ilkay Gundogan missed two headed opportunities in the box.

“We faced a really difficult team,” said Guardiola, whose side failed to score in a Champions League match for the first time since October 2022.

“I’m still really, really satisfied for the game we played, especially with how [Inter] defended, they are masters of that, so big, they help each other unbelievably. So you cannot expect to create a lot of chances.”

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