Match preview: Manchester City vs Inter Milan (UEFA Champions League 2024)

Manchester City will face Inter Milan at the Etihad Stadium on September 18, 2024, in the opening matchday of the UEFA Champions League group stage. The match is scheduled to kick off at 20:00 UK time and will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate

Team Form and Recent Performances

Manchester City

Manchester City is in exceptional form, having won their last six matches across all competitions, including four consecutive Premier League victories. They recently defeated Brentford 2-1, showcasing their resilience and attacking prowess. City is currently leading the Premier League with a perfect record of four wins from four matches, scoring 11 goals and conceding just three. Historically, City has been dominant at home, going unbeaten in all 19 Premier League games last season, scoring 51 goals and conceding just 16

Inter Milan

Inter Milan has also started their season strongly, sitting second in Serie A with two wins and two draws from their first four matches. They recently secured a dominant 4-0 victory over Atalanta, highlighting their attacking capabilities. However, their recent 1-1 draw with Monza showed some vulnerabilities, partly due to squad rotation. Inter excelled away from home last season, losing just one Serie A away match and winning 15 of their 19 away games.

Key Players

Manchester City

• Erling Haaland: The Norwegian striker is in prolific form, having scored 16 goals this season, including back-to-back braces in his last three Premier League outings. His presence will be crucial for City's attacking strategy.
• Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol: Both players have contributed three goals each, adding depth to City's offensive options.

Inter Milan

• Marcus Thuram: With six goals to his name, Thuram is Inter's top scorer this season and will be a key player to watch.
• Hakan Calhanoglu and Marko Arnautovic: Both players have scored three goals each, providing additional attacking threats for Inter.

Predicted Lineups

Manchester City (3-2-4-1): Ederson, Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Rico Lewis, Mateo Kovacic, Jérémy Doku, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, Erling Haaland.

Inter Milan (3-5-2): Yann Sommer, Benjamin Pavard, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni, Matteo Darmian, Nicolò Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Federico Dimarco, Marcus Thuram, Lautaro Javier Martinez.

Match Predictions and Betting Odds

Manchester City is favoured to win this match, with betting odds reflecting their strong home performance and current form. The predicted scoreline is 2-1 in favour of City. However, given both teams' recent performances, a draw is also a plausible outcome.

Statistical Insights

• Goals: Manchester City averages 3.80 goals per game but has shown some defensive vulnerabilities, conceding an average of 2.00 goals. Inter Milan has scored 1.80 goals per game in their last 10 matches.
• Both Teams to Score (BTTS): Manchester City has seen both teams score in 90% of their last 10 games, while Inter Milan has a 60% BTTS rate.
• Over/Under 2.5 Goals: City has had over 2.5 goals in 80% of their last 10 games, while Inter has had over 2.5 goals in 50% of their last 10 games.

How to Watch

The match will be broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate, with live streaming available via the Discovery+ app. Coverage will begin at 19:00 UK time, with pre-match discussions and post-match analysis provided by special guests.