Manchester City are about to get their Champions League campaign underway – and one of their players has sent a message of defiance ahead of facing Erling Haaland.
Manchester City are looking to get off a winning start, in a competition that now has a new format.
The group stages are no more, with a new ‘league phase’ replacing them.
Currently, Bayern Munich are top of the 36-team table after they thrashed Dinamo Zagreb 9-2 on Tuesday night in a statement win for ex-City skipper Vincent Kompany.
City are taking on Inter for the first time since the 2023 final in Istanbul, and the Italian giants will hope revenge will be on the cards.
Speaking ahead of tonight’s game, goalkeeper Yann Sommer had a warning for City and red-hot striker Erling Haaland.
Yann Sommer determined to douse on-fire Man City superstar Erling Haaland
It has been a truly sensational start to the new season for Haaland.
The 24-year-old had no international football over the summer and has clearly benefitted from a good rest.
So far, he’s scored nine goals in just four games, and he looks like he will finish every chance he gets.
Haaland will be well up for tonight’s game. We know he loves the Champions League, having previously admitted his alarm is the competition’s famous anthem. He has also scored 41 goals in just 39 games.
Yann Sommer is someone who has faced Haaland a number of times in his career. Before playing for Inter, he had spent years at Borussia Monchengladbach.
Haaland, of course, played for Borussia Dortmund, so the pair are familiar with one another.
Sommer also had one season at Bayern Munich last season, and faced Haaland in the two legs of the Champions League quarter-final.
Sommer said (as quoted by Football Italia): “Haaland is one of the best strikers in the world, but after all, we’ll face an excellent team with a formidable striker.
“City are not only Haaland. He receives passes from his teammates and we have prepared for this game in the best way. I am convinced we can do well because we defend well and keep tight spaces.”
Sommer must be perfect to stop Haaland
It is potentially going to be an incredibly hard task for Sommer and his Inter teammates to keep Haaland at bay tonight.
The Norwegian sensation is in absolutely incredible form right now and is scoring goals of real quality, not just tap-ins.
He has come into the new season after a big rest and looks so ready to hurt anybody he comes up against.
Sommer has been on the winning side three times in his five meetings with Haaland. But it will take a huge effort for Inter to be victorious tonight at the Etihad Stadium.
