Inter Milan managed to secure a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Premier League giants Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in a gripping Champions League clash on Wednesday night.
This result offered a sense of redemption for the Italians, who had suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to City in the 2023 final of Europe’s elite competition.
The match was a tense, end-to-end affair, with both sides creating numerous opportunities but failing to find the back of the net.
Manchester City, known for their fluid attack under Pep Guardiola, struggled to break down an organized and resilient Inter defense marshaled by Milan Škriniar and Francesco Acerbi.
Simone Inzaghi’s men, while disciplined at the back, frequently threatened on the counterattack, making for a nervy evening for the City faithful.
City’s star striker, Erling Haaland, came agonizingly close to making history as the fastest player to score 100 goals for a European club.
The Norwegian had two golden opportunities in the first half: a powerful header that Inter’s Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer acrobatically saved on the goal line, and a low, driven shot that narrowly missed the far post.
Inter, meanwhile, had their moments to snatch a famous win. Veteran midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan came closest for the Nerazzurri, unleashing a thunderous shot from just inside the box late in the game that sailed inches over the crossbar, leaving the Armenian clutching his head in disbelief.
As the clock ticked down, Manchester City poured forward in search of a late winner. Midfielder Ilkay Gündogan found himself in prime positions twice in the dying minutes, but both of his headers were off-target, with one skimming the top of the bar just seconds before the final whistle. City’s fans groaned in frustration as they watched their team miss out on a chance to seal the victory.
In the end, Inter Milan left Manchester with a valuable point and a confidence boost, while City were left to rue their missed opportunities. For both sides, the result set the stage for an intriguing return leg in Milan.
