MCI Post Match Review: Manchester City vs Inter Milan

In the highly-anticipated rematch of the 2023 Champions League final, Manchester City and Inter Milan were held to a 0-0 draw on Wednesday evening in their Champions League opener. Guardiola’s men, looking to extend their winning streak to six games across all competitions, were stifled by a stingy, tough Inter defense despite the red hot form of Erling Haaland, who has already netted nine goals in four Premier League appearances.

First Half:

Both City and Inter actively sought an early advantage during the first half at the Etihad Stadium. Inter Milan’s well-organized defense and quick counter attacks prevented Pep Guardiola’s side from creating clear-cut opportunities early on. While City controlled the ball, Inter weren’t content to sit back and defend. In the first half, they had 10 shots, demonstrating their willingness to challenge City defensively. However, both teams only managed two shots on target in the opening half​. It was City talisman Kevin De Bruyne who played a pivotal role for City during this period, coming close with a pair of attempts that almost broke the deadlock. An injury forced the Belgian off at halftime, an unfortunate blow for City ahead of their upcoming Premier League clash with Arsenal this weekend. Carlos Augusto’s low shot late in the half tested Ederson, who quickly reacted to keep the score level at the break as Inter pushed forward. 

Matteo Darmian and Henrikh Mkhitaryan also caused City problems, with Mkhitaryan proving particularly dangerous on the counterattack. Despite City’s territorial dominance, the half ended goalless, showing that the match was more balanced than possession statistics indicated. The bright spot of the first half was Josko Gvardiol. To use an American baseball term he batted .1000: 44/44 passes completed, one dribble, a long ball, 2 out of 2 ground duels won, along with a tackle and interception. To put it it plainly, anything Josko was involved in during the first half was a win. Super Jack Grealish was another bright spot with 4 chances created, leading everyone in the first half. 

Second Half:

The second half saw City come out with heightened urgency, particularly after De Bruyne’s forced departure. Guardiola adjusted the team tactics at the half and Inter began to retreat deeper into their own half as City began to exert more pressure on the midfield. City attempted a whopping total of 22 shots during the match but they were unable to convert these opportunities into goals. Inter’s defense, led by Swiss international goalkeeper Yann Sommer, stood firm under the growing pressure, blocking several key attempts and proving to be a thorn in City’s search for a goal​.  As the second half progressed, Ilkay Gündogan and Phil Foden started to grow into the game and had a couple of chances to break the deadlock. Sommer, however, matched each attempt City made, frustrating the home side as it fought for a victory. A well-drilled Inter defense kept Erling Haaland quiet despite his blistering Premier League form, with Italian duo Acerbi and Bastoni putting in a shift to neutralize his threat. On the day, the lack of clinical finishing from both sides was evident. 

The second half saw Inter focus more on containment, rarely posing a threat to City’s goal. However, their defensive discipline and occasionally counterattacks kept them in the game. The City attack lacked the clinical edge required to break through and despite the briefly dangerous introductions of City gamebreaker Jeremy Doku as time ticked down, it became clear that Inter would be leaving Manchester satisfied with a point. Inzaghi’s men came prepared and frustrated the reigning PL champions on home turf, marking a solid start to their Champions League campaign​. 

Post match thoughts:

There were no City attacking players that necessarily stood out during the match but there was one City player in particular that did. It’s not everyday that a defender earns the man-of-the-match award but this decision was easy as Josko Gvardiol was clearly the most impressive player on the pitch. He demonstrated his composure by executing 96% of his passes, while also dominating all challenges and aerial duels. An exceptional performance at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night for the Croatian star.

Here are five key post-match thoughts following Manchester City’s 0-0 draw with Inter Milan:

• De Bruyne’s Injury Concerns: Kevin De Bruyne’s early exit due to injury was a significant blow for City. His absence in the second half was felt, especially as City struggled to find the creative spark needed to unlock Inter’s defense. It remains to be seen whether he will be fit for the Arsenal fixture this weekend.
• Inter’s Defensive Discipline: Inter Milan’s defensive resilience was impressive throughout the match. Simone Inzaghi’s team remained well-organized and neutralized Manchester City’s attacking threats, especially Erling Haaland. Yann Sommer at GK and their Italian CB duo in Bastoni and Acerbi delivered standout performances, ensuring that City’s forwards had minimal chances. 
• Haaland’s Frustration: After his red-hot start to the Premier League season, Erling Haaland found himself stifled by Inter’s backline. Frequently surrounded by 5-6 players in the box, the Norwegian striker struggled to make his usual impact, with Inter’s defense effectively cutting off service to him. This will be a common theme in matches moving forward. City and Erling will have to find a solution. 
• City’s Missed Chances: While City dominated possession and created more opportunities, their inability to convert their chances ultimately cost them the win. Ilkay Gündoğan and Bernardo Silva both had late chances, but the finishing touch was missing. Phil Foden popped up in dangerous positions but failed to get his shot on target or make the extra pass. This match was a reminder that even the best teams need to be clinical in front of goal to secure results​(
• Inter’s Strategic Approach: Despite being under pressure for much of the second half, Inter’s game plan was effective. They absorbed City’s pressure, focused on counter-attacks, and managed to leave Manchester with a valuable point. For Inter, the draw was a tactical success, and it sets them up well for the rest of their Champions League campaign​.

Stats:

MAN CITY VS. INTER MILAN MATCH STATS

• Possession: Man City 63%-37% Inter Milan
• Shots: Man City 23-13 Inter Milan
• Shots on target: Man City 5-3 Inter Milan
• Corners: Man City 4-3 Inter Milan
• Fouls: Man City 12-9 Inter Milan

Match Ratings:

• Ederson-7.5
• Ruben Dias-7.5
• Josko Gvardiol-9-MOTM
• Rico Lewis-7
• Rodri-8
• Savinho-6.6
• Bernardo Silva-7
• Kevin De Bruyne-6.5
• Jack Grealish-8.5
• Erling Haaland-6.5
• Subs:
• Phil Foden-7.7
• Ilkay Gundogan-7
• Jeremey Doku-6.2

Written by: Matty

Edited by: Sheikh