Manchester City know only too well how tough a nut Inter are to crack. The greatest night of their history, the Champions League final triumph in 2022, was not without its difficulties; the heart-stopping moments have gilded the legend. This was another reminder of the quality of Simone Inzaghi’s Italian champions, albeit without the same levels of drama.

The City supporters had come to see Erling Haaland and the striker’s latest assault on the history books. If he could have scored here, he would have become the fastest player to reach 100 goals for a club, narrowly eclipsing Cristiano Ronaldo’s mark for Real Madrid. This was game No 104 for Haaland. Ronaldo took 105.

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