Man City 0-0 Internazionale
by James Nalton
at the City of Manchester stadium

MANCHESTER CITY were held to a 0-0 draw by Internazionale in their opening game of the new Champions League season on Wednesday night.

Though City manager Pep Guardiola praised the defensive quality and setup of Inter and his opposite number Simone Inzaghi, his side still had some good chances to win it.

Two of the best of them fell to Ilkay Gundogan, who replaced an injured Kevin De Bruyne at halftime.

Both were headers, one from a cross from Josko Gvardiol which Gundogan headed straight at Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer, and another a diving header from a Jeremy Doku cross that went over the bar.

An intricate move involving Jack Grealish, Gundogan, and Phil Foden, produced a chance for the latter and wowed a crowd that had been absorbed in this contest, but Foden’s shot was saved by Sommer.

Inter operated with a back three with wing-backs joining them to form a back five out of possession.

When Inzaghi’s side had the ball, however, those central defenders would take turns bombing forward depending on the situation and the position of the attack.

At one point Alessandro Bastoni joined the attack on the left, and at others, the central player of the three, Francesco Acerbi, moved into midfield.

Inter couldn’t keep possession long enough for these manoeuvres to impact the game.

They also left occasional spaces for City to counter, but they were usually filled quickly by other Inter players or by those in question sprinting back into position.

Inter broke dangerously on occasion but were either caught offside or couldn’t execute when in good positions.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan had a good chance in the second half when fellow substitute Denzel Dumfries broke down the right and sent in a cross, but the former Manchester United man sent his shot over the bar.

For all the tactical tussling that will take credit for the 0-0 draw, City will feel the few chances they did create were enough to win the game.