STAR FOOTBALL PREVIEW Wed: Manchester City v Inter Milan

Manchester City kick off their Champions League campaign with a renewal of their winning final from 22/23 against Inter Milan, writes LEWIS WILLIAMS.

The replay of the Champions League final from 22/23 sees Manchester City host an Inter Milan side in almost certainly better shape than their last meeting which was at a time of a 3rd place league finish on 72 points – a contrast to last season winning the league on 94 points and 19 clear of their closest chaser.

Manchester City come here after Ederson and John Stones played musical statues in the penalty area which gifted Yoane Wissa of Brentford a first minute goal most recently in the Premier League. However that was soon rebutted by the inevitable Erling Haaland who made two goals in 15 minutes look like a training ground canter.

The Norwegian is simply flying at the moment after last season failing to match an impossible 36 goals of the campaign prior, and he’s surely on track to beat both of those numbers should he stay fit with 9 goals in 4 games and a seemingly impossible chance of missing anything inside the penalty area.

With that said, going a goal down early isn’t new for the Citizens and that Brentford goal inside 30 seconds is in line with a trend of a messy West Ham own goal after 20 minutes and going a goal down at home versus Ipswich inside 7.

If you are looking for an explainer of the new Champions League format as well as in-depth analysis and ante-post selections ahead of the big kick-off, click here!

Manchester City v Inter Milan
UEFA Champions League League Phase
20:00 TNT Sports

LAST FIVE STATS

MANCHESTER CITY
SEP 2024 PREMIER LEAGUE Man City 2-1 Brentford
AUG 2024 PREMIER LEAGUE West Ham 1-3 Man City
AUG 2024 PREMIER LEAGUE Man City 4-1 Ipswich
AUG 2024 PREMIER LEAGUE Chelsea 0-2 Man City
AUG 2024 COMMUNITY SHIELD Man City (p) 2-1 Man Utd

INTER MILAN
SEP 2024 SERIE A Monza 1-1 Inter
AUG 2024 SERIE A Inter 4-0 Atalanta
AUG 2024 SERIE A Inter 2-0 Lecce
AUG 2024 SERIE A Genoa 2-2 Inter
AUG 2024 FRIENDLY Chelsea 1-1 Inter

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Inter Milan arrive in Manchester with seemingly indifferent form after a 4-0 rout against Atalanta preceding a shambolic 1-1 draw at 1/3 in Monza. They are however, Manchester CIty’s biggest test so far this season and will surely feel hard done by after going out in penalties against Atletico Madrid last season at an early stage of the knockout phase.

Marcus Thuram playing alongside Lautaro Martinez instead of Edin Dzeko which was the case when these two last met is certainly an upgrade in the final third and I certainly see them having their fair share of chances in the context of City’s lack of clean sheets this season.

City aren’t the only ones who enjoy a goal early in matches with 4 of Inter’s 9 goals so far this season coming inside the first half hour and when you consider they only scored 7 less goals all season on 89 compared to City when both sides won their respective leagues most recently, this match could be set up for some early fireworks in this new league phase which is arguably more forgiving to average early results.

With the aforementioned City record of conceding early in matches, coupled with Inter’s change in firepower since the Champions League final, I’m expecting a stern test for Pep to kick off what might be his final Champions League in charge of City, Over 1.5 goals at ? with starsports.bet looks fair.

There is also a staggering record from both of these sides when it comes to corners, with City recording 12, 11, and 10 in their last 3 fixtures and Inter having 8, 3, and 10. A Build-a-bet of over 2.5 goals and over 10.5 corners pays around 3/1 with starsports.bet.

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BACK Over 1.5 1st half goals 1pt at 29/20 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
Build-a-bet: Over 2.5 goals and over 10.5 corners 1pt at 3/1 with starsports.bet

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(SEP 2024): PROFIT/LOSS +3.15 POINTS

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