Man City vs Inter Milan Prediction: BTTS to strike at the Etihad again

Manchester City get their Uefa Champions League campaign underway at the Etihad Stadium against a familiar foe in Inter Milan on Wednesday (20:00, TNT Sports 1), with these two sides contesting the final of the 2023 edition of this competition.

That was the year City won an astonishing treble, and they would like to think they could compete for one again this season. Inter will provide them a stern test and will of course be eager to avenge that final defeat from over a year ago. Read on for my Man City vs Inter Milan prediction, including match odds and team news.

Man City vs Inter Milan Odds

Man City are 1/2, or a 66.7% chance, to win this contest. Inter are 11/2 for the away win, giving them an implied probability of 15/4%. The draw is on offer at 100/30 (23.1%).

Over 2.5 goals can be found at 8/13 and both teams to score is available at 8/11. City striker Erling Haaland has nine goals in the Premier League already this season. He is valued at 5/2 to open the scoring, or at the shorter price of 4/5 to score anytime.

Inter's Marcus Thuram has four for himself in Serie A, and the Frenchman can be backed at 16/5 to find the back of the net during any stage of this fixture.

Football Odds

Team News 

Oscar Bobb remains Man City's long-term absentee with a leg fracture, while Nathan Ake is going to be sidelined for at least a month with an injury he picked up with the Netherlands over the international break.

Key midfielder Rodri could be handed his first start of the campaign, which is not what Inter fans will want to see as it was his strike that defeated them in the 2023 showpiece in Istanbul. Last season's Premier League Player of the Season Phil Foden will also be hoping for a start because he has not been getting regular minutes for the Citizens so far.

Kyle Walker will be hoping that he can keep his place at right-back, having previously been kept out by the incredible young talent that is Rico Lewis. The youngster was deployed at left-back against Brentford last time out and it will be interesting to see what Pep Guardiola goes with on Wednesday, as you also have to throw Josko Gvardiol's name into the mix.

John Stones partnered Manuel Akanji from the off in that game, before being replaced by Ruben Dias, so it looks to be a battle between those two to start this European curtain-raiser.

For Inter, Tajon Buchanan is their only injury concern heading into this clash, so Simone Inzaghi will have most of his key assets available for this trip to Manchester. Players like Hakan Calhanoglu, Nicolo Barella and Alessandro Bastoni are set to earn recalls after sitting out in their 1-1 draw with Monza at the weekend.

Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez should lead the line together, with the former providing four goals and two assists in the league so far, while the latter is yet to get off the mark.

Man City and both teams to score @ 2/1

With Guardiola's men being at home, it is very hard to bet against them. They are the only side in the Premier League after four games to have won every single one. People often say that when it comes to the title race the Citizens are finishers rather than starters, but no one can fault them for the way they have started this campaign.

Haaland's goals have once again been crucial and he looks like his game is reaching another level this year, which should aid City in their quest for a second Champions League crown.

I envisage this being a tight affair, though, as Inter cannot be underestimated. They are a team that can be tough to break down and clinical on the break, as we saw in Europe two seasons ago.

The Nerazzurri have conceded just three goals in the league so far and I think they will force Man City to get creative on Wednesday night. I think they will get on the scoresheet because Thuram is heading to the Etihad in fine form and both teams to score has landed in the hosts' last seven matches here.

Ultimately, I think with the options that they have, Man City should come away with an opening win, but I don't think they will blow their Italian visitors away.

Bet Builder - Erling Haaland first scorer, Marcus Thuram 1+ shots on target, Lautaro Martinez 1+ fouls & Rodri 2+ fouls @ 15/1

I have gone a bit creative with this selection, opting for a bet builder. I think Haaland is worth backing to score first because he has opened the scoring in three of the four Premier League matches City have played this season, and with the form he's in, I can't see anyone else netting the first goal in this contest.

Thuram has four goals in Serie A, and he too will head into this match with confidence. Of course he's no Erling Haaland and isn't as much of a sure bet for goals, but I do see him causing City's back line some problems. The attacker has seen seven of his nine shots in the league this season hit the target, and with clean sheets hard to come by for Man City, I think he will have a few chances to score.

Last year's top scorer Martinez is going to be a little frustrated as he's not up and running yet in 2024/25 and I think you are seeing that from the number of fouls he has committed. The Argentine has been penalised eight times in Serie A, and I think he will be drawn into a mistake here as his side are unlikely to see much of the ball.

I then have Rodri to commit two fouls because he could be in line for his first start, which could make for a slightly rusty performance. Of course he's key to what City do and more often than not he will win his duels. Yet, he will be up against some quality players in Inter's side and I think their counter-attacking style will drawn him in for a couple of fouls.

Offers

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