Man City vs Inter Milan predicted lineups and team news | OneFootball

Manchester City and Inter Milan are set for a mouth-watering clash on matchday one of the new-look Champions League, as the reigning kingpins of England and Italy meet at the Etihad Stadium.

Man City vs Inter Milan predicted line-ups

Man City: Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Doku, Rodri, Kovacic, Savinho; Silva, De Bruyne; Haaland.

Inter Milan: Sommer; Bastoni, Acerbi, Pavard; Dimarco, Mkhitaryan, Calhanoglu, Barella, Darmian; Thuram, Martinez.

This is, of course, a repeat of the 2022/23 Champions League final, when a single goal from Rodri was enough to help Pep Guardiola steer City to their maiden European title.

The Nerazzurri made it hard work for the Citizens in Istanbul that night and will likely be attempting to stifle their hosts again here, though Inter may take heart from City’s apparent inability to keep many clean sheets at home, as recent goals for Ipswich and Brentford made it one Etihad shutout in their last eight games.

City need to tighten up

Guardiola will surely be drilling his players to start this contest with their minds fully focused.

In the Premier League this season, both Ipswich and Brentford have left City trailing on their own patch within seven minutes of kick-off.

Ultimately they were able to recover and win both games, but affording a side of Inter’s quality and durability such a luxury could prove much more costly.

City have been quarter-finalists at worst in each of the last seven seasons, while Inter’s journey to that decider in Istanbul is the only time they have progressed to the last eight or further since the 2010/11 season.

The modern City have won four of their last five games against Serie A sides, though that forms part of an historical record that shows just five wins in 13 overall, with five draws and three defeats.

Inter don’t tend to draw with English opposition as their record of seven wins and six losses in the last 13 Anglo-Italian showdowns demonstrates. All told, Inter have managed only eight victories in their last 22 away Champions League games.

Simone Inzaghi will be all too aware that this is one of the toughest starting points his side could have asked for in the revamped Champions League group stage.

Though they have made an unbeaten start to the defence of their Serie A crown, Inter have failed to win away from the San Siro this season, drawing with Genoa and Monza.

They needed a late goal from full-back Denzel Dumfries on Sunday to get a point against a Monza side without a win in the league.

Man City vs Inter Milan team news

Nathan Ake is set to miss out for City after picking up an injury on international duty with the Netherlands this month, while Oscar Bobb suffered a leg fracture in training last month and remains in recovery.

Phil Foden has not played since August due to illness, but he was on the bench against Brentford at the weekend. Summer signing Savinho returned from injury against the Bees.

Tajon Buchanan is sidelined with a fractured fibula for Inter. Alessandro Bastoni, Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolo Barella were rotated at the weekend but could be in line to return to the starting XI now.