The first game of the 2024/25 Champions League is highlighted by Wednesday night’s clash between Manchester City and Inter at the Etihad.
In a repeat of the 2023 final in Istanbul, the Premier League champions take on the Scudetto holders in an earth-shattering pre-season clash in the league’s new division.
Pep Guardiola’s Cityzens have started the new campaign in good form, but have leaked goals in recent weeks. However, City remain top of the Premier League having won their opening four games.
Inter already have a few blips on their home record in 2024/25, and they were forced to come from behind at Monza on Sunday. Denzel Dumfries rescued a point for the champions, who were also held by Genoa on Matchday 1. However, the 4-0 win over Atalanta before the September break was a reminder of just how strong Simone Inzaghi’s side can be.
Here it is 90 min preview of Wednesday’s blockbuster Champions League game.
Man City vs Inter H2H Record (All Matches)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Man City |
Inter |
|---|---|
|
Man City 2-1 Brentford – 14/09/24 |
Monza 1-1 Inter – 15/09/24 |
|
West Ham 1-3 Man City – 31/08/24 |
Inter 4-0 Atalanta – 30/08/24 |
|
Man City 4-1 Ipswich Town – 24/08/24 |
Inter 2-0 Lecce – 24/08/24 |
|
Chelsea 0-2 Man City – 18/08/24 |
Genoa 2-2 Inter – 17/08/24 |
|
Man City 1-1 (7-6p) Man Utd – 10/08/24 |
Chelsea 1-1 Inter – 11/08/24 |
|
The country |
TV channel/live streaming |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
discovery+, discovery+ app, TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate |
|
United States |
Paramount+, fuboTV, TUDN.com, Univision NOW, TUDN App, ViX, TUDN USA, UniMás |
|
Canada |
DAZN |
Nathan Ake has been ruled out until the October break due to a hamstring injury sustained while playing for the Netherlands last week.
The Dutch defender joins Oscar Bobb on the sidelines, with the Norwegian expected to be in contention until 2025.
Rodri makes his first start of the season on Wednesday, while Phil Foden could return to the team after failing to feature at the weekend. Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias are other favorites to start, but Guardiola will have one eye on him when they face Arsenal on Sunday.
Man City predicted to face Inter (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Walker, Dias, Akanji, Guardiol; Rodri, Kovacic; Bernardo, Foden, Doku; Haaland.
There is some concern over the condition of star defender Federico Dimarco, who was suffering from muscle fatigue after Inter’s 1-1 draw with Monza.
Not only would the Italian international miss Wednesday’s game in Manchester, but Italian outlets believe Dimarco could be struggling to be fit for Sunday’s Derby della Madonnina.
The Nerazzurri otherwise have a few problems in the injury zone. However, they will be missing Canada’s Tajon Buchanan.
Inzaghi turned up big at Monza at the weekend and we should see Nicolo Barella, Alessandro Bastoni, Benjamin Pavard, and Hakan Calhanoglu all return to the Inter XI at the Etihad.
Inter predicted to face Man City (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez.
Neither side could have been more different from their first and only meeting less than 18 months ago, with Inzaghi’s side causing all sorts of problems in Istanbul before Rodri scored a second-half winner.
Although the hosts started the season in a strange way, they showed danger in the counter-attack and when defending the set-pieces. Those problems should be alleviated once Rodri is regrouped, and he should make his first start of the season on Wednesday.
The return of Rodri will give courage to the athletes, who also carry a powerful weapon in sports. Inter’s excellent defense have their work cut out for them if they are going to tame Erling Haaland, but Inzaghi’s well-drilled block and fluid transition in possession gave Inter the chance to cause an upset.
It will be close and very competitive, City will probably have to work from the back to get all three points.
Prediction: Man City 2-1 Inter
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