Champions League
2024-09-18 - Manchester City vs Inter Milan
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Champions League Group Stage
Wednesday 18th September 2024 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV
Manchester City
The hearing that has Manchester City and the English Premier League on opposite sides of the courtroom has begun on Monday and it is likely going to be one that has a major impact on the sport both domestically and around Europe. The outcome will not be known for several months, and Manchester City's manager and squad have shown they can keep their mind focused on matters on the pitch rather than in the legal corridors.
Two seasons ago, Manchester City were finally able to call themselves European Champions for the first time, but there will have been disappointment that the defence ended in the Quarter Final last time around. Once again they are one of the leading contenders to win it all and Pep Guardiola will be keen for his team to make an early statement against what looks like being the top Italian contender.
Manchester City came from behind to beat Brentford on Saturday and have won all 4 Premier League games played this season. The side have not lost any of their last 23 Champions League games played in normal time, although Manchester City's 12 game home winning run in the competition was ended in the 1-1 draw with Real Madrid in the Quarter Final Second Leg, which was eventually lost on Penalties.
Nathan Ake is expected to miss out until after the October international break, while the manager may choose to bring back the likes of Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol having begun the fixture against Brentford with both on the bench. Phil Foden is back after an illness, but has yet to be given much playing time this season.
Inter Milan
There has been a steady improvement from Inter Milan in recent years and they have become Italian Champions for the second time in four seasons. During that time, Inter Milan have also reached the Champions League Final before coming up short, and this is a squad that looks to be Italy's best chance in this competition this time around.
A huge amount of disappointment was felt by Inter Milan fans after the team were beaten in the Last 16 of the Champions League last season, although winning the title for the first time since 2021 will have helped. They have been a mixed bag early in the 2024/25 season, although Inter Milan will know a victory in Manchester on Wednesday would certainly spark things.
Inter Milan are unbeaten in 7 in all competitions, although it should be pointed out that 4 of those matches have ended in draws including at Monza this past weekend. Since losing at Sassuolo, Inter Milan have played 4 away games and have won 1 and then drawn 3 in a row. The side won 1 of their 4 away Champions League games last season too and were beaten most recently at Atletico Madrid.
Head to Head
A second half Rodri goal helped Manchester City beat Inter Milan 1-0 in the 2023 Champions League Final.
The clubs will be meeting for the first time at the Etihad Stadium in a competitive fixture.
Prediction
One of the big reasons that the Champions League format was changed was so the 'top' clubs would have an opportunity to face one another before the Knock Out Rounds.
Ultimately these matches make the most commercial sense and Manchester City vs Inter Milan certainly qualifies as a top match.
Eighteen months ago this was the Champions League Final and Inter Milan will be looking for revenge and an opportunity to make an early statement of their intent in the competition in the 2024/25 season. Finishing in the top eight has to be a big ambition for Inter, the Italian Champions, but that will mean needing to improve recent away form.
There is little doubt that Inter Milan do not travel as well as they play at the San Siro and this is a very tough ground to perform at.
Off field issues continue to hang over Manchester City, but Pep Guardiola and his squad are amongst the very top contenders to win the Champions League this season. A strong start domestically makes them favourites to win a fifth consecutive Premier League title, and Manchester City have a big chance to put down a marker of their own this week with a couple of big home games to come.
The fixture on Sunday against Arsenal is a potential distraction, but Manchester City have tended to do what they need to do in the Champions League. Before the draw with Real Madrid in the Quarter Final in April, Manchester City had won 12 in a row at home in the Champions League and Inter Milan's early defending makes it hard to see how they can contain the hosts.
Erling Haaland is on fire right now and he can exploit any issues Inter have at the back and Manchester City are likely to have enough to earn the home points.
Much more is expected of this Inter Milan team this season after the Last 16 defeat back in March, but this early test may get beyond them as Manchester City perhaps earn another victory inspired by their Norwegian striker.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Manchester City 2-1 Inter Milan
