Manchester City vs Inter Milan: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

Manchester City should ease into the new Champions League format with an opening game win. However, they should expect a tough challenge from the Italian Champions Inter Milan.

Manchester City are on a six game winning run in all competitions, facing an Inter Milan side who had experienced no losses in their previous four. The only time these two have met in the UEFA Champions League was the final in 2023, which was decided by a second-half strike from Rodri.

City has been conceding goals at the Etihad this season; with two of their four Premier League games, the Premier League Champions have at least conceded once. Both teams have scored in eight of the last nine games involving Manchester City.

Erling Haaland has scored at least a brace in his previous three Premier League games, so expect him to continue his fine scoring form here.

Manchester City are the pick for us as Pep Gaurdiola’s side should overcome Inter Milan in a 2-1 scoreline. Manchester City 2-1 Inter Milan.

The Champions League is again back for another season of highs and lows in Europe’s Elite competition. The pick of the opening week’s fixtures sees a repeat of the 2023 final as Manchester City host Inter Milan at the Etihad Stadium.

Date: 18//09/2024
Location: Etihad Stadium
Kick-Off: 8 pm

The new UEFA Champions League format provides an exciting concept for this season's competition. The competition is now in a 36-team format, in which the top eight clubs automatically qualify for the knockout phase, with teams ranked from ninth to 24th competing in a two-legged play-off fixture to be second-seeded and face the teams already qualified. From there, the competition will resume with the normal knockout phase from previous years. Each team is now required to play eight games instead of six.

Manchester City are the bookmakers' favourites to recapture the UEFA Champions League, and another win in this historic competition would be a fighting ending for Pep Guardiola if the Spaniard chooses to see his contract out in 2025. Manchester City have become a force in Europe over the last four seasons, reaching two finals - winning once.

Their first UEFA Champions League final ended in defeat at the hands of English side Chelsea; however, they found their luck more favourable the second time around. Guardiola and his side faced Inter Milan in the final of 2023, which was decided by a second-half strike from Rodri.

Their opponents, Inter Milan, provided an equal match stylistic-wise in the final two years ago, and if it were not for some questionable finishing from Romelu Lukaku and goalkeeping heroics from Manchester City keeper Ederson, we could be in a situation where Inter Milan were discussed as European Champions from two years ago.

The Nerazzuri recovered with the perfect statement last season by comfortably winning the Serie A, finishing 19 points clear of fiercest rivals AC Milan. Inter Milan only lost twice last season, which came against bottom-of-the-table Sassuolo twice.

This season, both sides are unbeaten in their respective leagues. Manchester City look to set an unprecedented five in a row for Premier League triumphs, and after four games, the Citizens have a 100% record. Inter Milan have made an impressive start to their title defence, with two wins from their first three - including a 4-0 victory over Atalanta.

The game will be shown on TNT Sports 1.

Manchester City Team News

Predicted Eleven: Ederson, Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol, Rodri, De Bruyne, Foden, Bernardo Silva, Doku, Haaland.

Inter Milan Team News

Predicted Eleven: Sommer; Pavard, De Vrij, Augusto; Darmian, Frattesi, Asllani, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Taremi

Manchester City have been in excellent form, as the current Premier League champions are on a six-game winning streak, including four in the Premier League this season. At home, Manchester City are usually their most ruthless, and this season, the Citizens have scored six goals and conceded only two.

Manchester City have only lost one game in regulation time since the turn of the year: the FA Cup Final against Manchester United. The last home game for Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League was the draw against Real Madrid, which ultimately ended in a penalty shootout loss for the Citizens.

Manchester City were excellent last season at home in the Premier League, having remained unbeaten in their 19 games. Manchester City scored 51 goals at home in the Premier League last season and only conceded 16. Manchester City are on a run of four wins from five at the Etihad Stadium. The home side averaged 2.68 goals per game last campaign and this season, they’re already on 2.05 after four games.

Inter Milan was in superb form on their travels away from the San Siro last season. The visitors for this game were only beaten once away from home in the Serie A last season, having only lost to Sassuolo. Inter Milan won 15 and drawn three of the remaining 18 games last season. Simone Inzaghi’s side averaged 2.53 points per game last season, which happened to be better than their home form of 2.43.

Inter Milan are in brilliant form, having been unbeaten in their previous four games - including an impressive start to their league campaign. As mentioned earlier, Inter Milan have won two and drawn one of their first three games. Their only away fixture this season resulted in a 2-2 draw away at Genoa.

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