Manchester City are set to kick off their 2024/2025 Champions League campaign with the daunting task of going toe-to-toe with Inter Milan.
City are coming off the back of a 2-1 win against Brentford while Inter suffered a 1-1 draw against Monza.
However, Pep Guardiola and Simone Inzaghi have a case for being two of the most tactically innovative managers in the world; promising an intriguing clash between both sides on Wednesday.
Both sides have only faced each other once and that was during the Champions League final last year in which the English giants reigned supreme by winning 1-0 in Istanbul.
The Sky Blues host the Italian giants at the Etihad Stadium this time around.
Pep Guardiola could make as many as four changes to the side that recently beat Brentford.
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Man City predicted line-up vs Inter Milan
Ederson Moraes’ spot in between the sticks is not up for debate — especially after he made a series of crucial saves and interceptions in City’s latest victory against Thomas Frank’s side.
The first change could emerge at right-back, with Rico Lewis making the move over from his stint at left-back against Brentford and Kyle Walker being benched for the game.
Walker could lose his place in the side to Josko Gvardiol, with the £77.6 million man looking excellent off the bench once he replaced Lewis at half-time on Saturday.
With John Stones looking rusty against the Bees due to making his first start of the season, Ruben Dias could dislodge him in the side — having had started regularly before the previous encounter.
Dias could accompany Manuel Akanji at the heart of Manchester City’s defence to square up against Inter Milan, as the latter was a rock at the back once again.
Much like Gvardiol, Rodri also helped steady the ship for City against Brentford and he could take Mateo Kovacic’s place at the base of midfield against the Serie A champions.
Considering Ilkay Gundogan made his first start for the Premier League champions against the West London side, Bernardo Silva could be preferred over him due to him having more minutes in his legs so far this campaign.
Kevin De Bruyne has started every game this season and it does not seem likely that he would lose his place for Manchester City’s biggest game this term.
Pep Guardiola revealed Savinho suffered a cramp against Brentford and while further examination was awaiting, the knock he took does not seem serious to rule him out of the fixture.
Coming off a brilliant brace in his previous outing, Erling Haaland seems set to start against Inter Milan.
Considering Jack Grealish has started back-to-back games, Pep Guardiola could perhaps give him another runout to closely assess his performance.
Manchester City predicted line-up vs Inter Milan: Ederson, Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Rodri, Bernardo, De Bruyne, Savinho, Haaland, Grealish
