Man City Set For Tough Test On Champions League Opening Day

Man City Set For Tough Test On Champions League Opening Day

The 2022/23 UEFA Champions League finalists are set to renew their rivalry as Manchester City host Inter Milan on the opening day of the 2024/25 league phase.

After falling short in the final last season due to a penalty-shootout defeat to eventual champions Real Madrid, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City now enter the competition as one of the top contenders for the title.

Since that heartbreak, City have added another Premier League title to their collection and started the new domestic campaign in dominant fashion. The Citizens have won all four of their opening matches, including a 2-1 victory over Brentford on Saturday at the Etihad Stadium. With their strong form, City appear poised to make a deep run in this season’s Champions League.

Inter Milan, however, have had a more inconsistent start to their season. The Nerazzurri were held to a 1-1 draw by Monza over the weekend, marking their second stumble in just four Serie A matches. Last season, Inter were eliminated in the Champions League knockout stages by Atletico Madrid. With new signings like Mehdi Taremi and Piotr Zielinski, Inter hope to reignite their European campaign, but they face a tough test in Manchester.

Manchester City come into this clash as firm favorites, bolstered by the red-hot form of Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker netted two more goals at the weekend, bringing his tally to eight goals in his last three Premier League games. With Rodri returning to the starting lineup, City’s chances of securing a positive result look even stronger.

In contrast, Inter have struggled on the road, with both of their early-season slip-ups occurring away from home. As they head into the Etihad, the Italian side will need to be at their best to challenge a City team firing on all cylinders.