Man City v Inter Milan – Preview, Predictions and Best Bets

Man City face Inter Milan in a rematch of the 2022-23 final where City won 1-0. Pep Guardiola’s side has won all four of their league matches this season, while the Italian giants will look to improve on last season’s round-of-16 exit from this competition.

Man City Form

City are in top form this season, having finished last season strongly. Their final 21 league matches of the 2023-24 campaign resulted in 18 wins and three draws, securing the title on the final day with a 3-1 win over West Ham. A 2-1 FA Cup loss to Manchester United ended the season on a slightly disappointing note.

This season, City have won all four of their league matches, starting with a penalty shootout victory over Manchester United in the Community Shield. After a 2-0 win at Chelsea, they generated 3.34 xG in a 4-1 victory over Ipswich. A 3-1 win followed against West Ham, with 3.00 xG and Erling Haaland netting a hat-trick for the second consecutive match. On Saturday, Haaland added two more goals in a 2-1 home win over Brentford.

Man City Team News

Nathan Aké is out with an injury, but Ruben Dias should return to the starting XI after being rested. Rodri, who played the second half against Brentford, is expected to start this match.

Josko Gvardiol and Bernardo Silva, both of whom came on as substitutes against Brentford, are likely to return to the lineup for this big match. Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden may find themselves on the bench once again.

Man City Motivation

City will aim to start their Champions League campaign with a home win. While they will go on the attack, they may need to be patient in breaking down Inter.

Pep Guardiola’s team will also have one eye on their upcoming match against Arsenal on Sunday, which is a significant fixture.

Inter Form

Inter had an excellent 2023-24 Serie A season, suffering just two defeats. They accumulated 94 points and won the league, though their Champions League run ended in the round of 16. After that exit to Atlético Madrid, their domestic form dipped slightly, with just five wins in their final 10 league matches.

This season started with a surprising 2-2 draw at Genoa, conceding an equalizer in the 95th minute. In round two, they secured a 2-0 win at Lecce with 2.42 xG and 61% possession. A commanding 4-0 victory over Atalanta followed before they needed a late goal to salvage a 1-1 draw at Monza in their last match on Sunday.

Inter Team News

Inter have just one injury concern in speedy wide player Tajon Buchanan. Coach Simone Inzaghi has a settled squad for this match, with only a few decisions to make.

Denzel Dumfries is pushing for a start at right wing-back after scoring from the bench against Monza. Captain and top scorer Lautaro Martínez was substituted after 56 minutes in the last match, likely in preparation for this fixture.

Inter Motivation

Inter will approach this game knowing it is their toughest group stage match. They are expected to adopt a defensive strategy to frustrate City while trying to maintain possession when possible.

Although Inter faces AC Milan over the weekend, their full focus will be on this match.

Key Stats

Man City have won 22 of their last 25 league matches (3 draws).

Man City have kept 5 clean sheets in their last 10 matches.

Inter Milan have won just 7 of their last 14 Serie A matches (1 loss, 6 draws).

Inter Milan have lost just 2 of their last 15 Champions League matches.

Inter have scored 1 or fewer goals in 8 of their last 10 UCL matches.

Verdict

Inter have struggled to score in the Champions League and will face an in-form City side. The hosts should have enough to secure a win, but backing a one-goal margin might be a smart bet.