Matchday 1 of the 2024/25 Champions League is undoubtedly 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 a seismic early-season clash in the new league phase.
Pep Guardiola’s Cityzens have started the new campaign in good form, but have leaked goals in recent weeks. Still, City sit top of the Premier League after winning their first four games.
Inter they already have a couple of blemishes on their national record in 2024/25, and were forced to come from behind in the afternoon at Monza on Sunday. Denzel Dumfries rescued a point for the champions, who also had Genoa on the first day. However, the 4-0 win over Atalanta before the September break was a reminder of just how powerful Simone Inzaghi’s side can be.
here it is 90 minutes preview of Wednesday’s blockbuster Champions League device
Man City vs Inter Head to Head 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 – 08/10/24 |
Chelsea 1-1 Inter – 08/11/24 |
|
country |
TV channel/live broadcast |
|---|---|
|
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 after the October international break with a muscle injury sustained while playing for the Netherlands last week.
The Dutch defender joins Oscar Bobb on the sidelines, with the Norway international not expected to feature until 2025.
Rodri is in line to make his first start of the season on Wednesday, while Phil Foden could return to the side after sitting out the weekend. Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias are others who want to start, but Guardiola will also have an eye on Sunday’s clash against Arsenal.
Man City’s predicted line-up against Inter (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Walker, Dias, Akanji, Guardiol; Rodri, Kovacic; Bernardo, Foden, Doku; Haaland.
There are some concerns over the condition of star full-back Federico Dimarco, who suffered muscle fatigue following Inter’s 1-1 draw against Monza.
Not only could the Italy international miss Wednesday’s game in Manchester, but Italian media believe Dimarco may also be struggling to be fit in time for Sunday’s Derby della Madonnina.
The Nerazzurri have few problems when it comes to injuries. However, they will be without Canadian international Tajon Buchanan.
Inzaghi rotated considerably at Monza at the weekend and we should see Nicolo Barella, Alessandro Bastoni, Benjamin Pavard and Hakan Calhanoglu return to the Inter XI at the Etihad.
Inter predicted the line-up against Man City (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez.
Neither side is likely to be dramatically different from their first and only meeting less than 18 months ago, with Inzaghi’s side causing city all sorts of trouble in Istanbul before Rodri hit a second-half winner.
Although the hosts have started the season with imperious strength, they have shown vulnerabilities on the counter-attack and defending set pieces. Those issues should be alleviated once Rodri is reintegrated, and he should make his first start of the season on Wednesday.
Rodri’s return will boost the hosts, who also have the sport’s most potent weapon at their disposal. An excellent Inter defense has its work cut out for it if it is to tame Erling Haaland, but Inzaghi’s meticulously drilled block and fluid rotations of possession position give Inter a chance of causing an upset.
It will be tight and very competitive, with City perhaps having to work from the back to win the three points.
