Manchester City Held by Inter Milan as PSG Snatches Last-Minute Win in Champions League
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Discover how Manchester City struggled to a 0-0 draw against Inter Milan and how PSG secured a last-minute victory over Girona in their Champions League opener. Get detailed match analysis and key highlights.
Main Points
- Manchester City’s goalless draw against Inter Milan
- Kevin De Bruyne’s injury and its impact on the game
- Phil Foden and Erling Haaland’s missed opportunities
- PSG’s last-minute win against Girona
- Borussia Dortmund, Celtic, and other key match results
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Manchester City’s Stalemate Against Inter Milan
Manchester City made a sluggish start to their Champions League campaign, drawing 0-0 against Inter Milan on Wednesday. Despite winning all four of their Premier League games this season, Pep Guardiola’s side failed to break down the Italian champions, echoing the 2023 final won by City. The match was marked by the injury of Kevin De Bruyne at half-time, forcing a strategic shift. Phil Foden had City’s best chance but shot directly at Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer, while Erling Haaland was kept silent, missing his chance to score his 100th goal for the club.
“It was a very intense game against a strong opponent. We knew what was coming, they are a top team as well and they are used to winning, so we were not going to have an easy job,” City defender Ruben Dias told TNT Sports.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan could have clinched it for Inter, but his shot went over the bar 15 minutes from time. City extended their unbeaten run in the competition to 24 matches, just one short of Manchester United’s record from 2007 to 2009. This draw marks only the second time in 42 home Champions League games under Guardiola that City has failed to score.
“Our plan was to show that we’re not scared to play here,” said Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu.
PSG’s Dramatic Victory Over Girona
PSG seemed destined for a draw against Champions League newcomers Girona until a last-minute error by goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga. In the 90th minute, Nuno Mendes’ cross slipped through Gazzaniga’s grasp, handing PSG a 1-0 victory. This narrow win underscores PSG’s resilience in the face of a well-organized Girona, who came close to toppling Real Madrid last season.
“It was a difficult game, they’re a team that plays well with the ball,” Mendes told Canal Plus. “I was surprised (by the goal). The goalkeeper was there and it got through.”
Other Key Matches
Borussia Dortmund’s Comeback
Borussia Dortmund, last season’s runners-up, relied on 20-year-old English winger Jamie Gittens to secure a 3-0 victory at Club Brugge. Gittens, coming off the bench, scored twice, with Serhou Guirassy adding a stoppage-time penalty for his first goal since arriving from Stuttgart.
Celtic’s Dominant Win
Celtic began their Champions League campaign in spectacular fashion, thrashing Slovan Bratislava 5-1 in Glasgow. Goals from Liam Scales, Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda, and Adam Idah, along with a penalty conversion by Arne Engels, highlighted Celtic’s strong performance.
“It’s a fantastic night,” Celtic captain Callum McGregor told TNT Sports. “I hope the supporters enjoyed it because the managers and players did. This is the next level for the group in terms of growth and development.”
Other Results
Bologna drew 0-0 at home to Shakhtar Donetsk in their first Champions League match, with Lukasz Skorupski saving an early penalty from Georgiy Sudakov. Sparta Prague swept aside Red Bull Salzburg 3-0, with goals from Kaan Kairinen, Victor Olatunji, and Qazim Laci, securing their first win in the competition proper since 2003.
FAQ
Q1: How did Manchester City perform in their Champions League opener?
A1: Manchester City drew 0-0 against Inter Milan in their opening Champions League match.
Q2: What happened to Kevin De Bruyne during the match?
A2: Kevin De Bruyne was injured and had to be substituted at half-time.
Q3: How did PSG secure their victory against Girona?
A3: PSG won 1-0 against Girona with a last-minute goal resulting from a goalkeeping error by Paulo Gazzaniga.
Q4: Who scored for Borussia Dortmund in their match against Club Brugge?
A4: Jamie Gittens scored twice and Serhou Guirassy added a stoppage-time penalty for Borussia Dortmund.
Q5: What was the result of Celtic’s match against Slovan Bratislava?
A5: Celtic won 5-1 against Slovan Bratislava.
Q6: Who were the goal scorers for Celtic in their match?
A6: Liam Scales, Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda, Adam Idah, and Arne Engels (penalty) scored for Celtic.
Q7: How did Bologna fare in their first Champions League match?
A7: Bologna drew 0-0 at home against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Q8: What was the result of Sparta Prague’s match against Red Bull Salzburg?
A8: Sparta Prague won 3-0 against Red Bull Salzburg.
Q9: How many matches has Manchester City remained unbeaten in the Champions League?
A9: Manchester City has remained unbeaten in 24 consecutive Champions League matches.
Q10: Who made a crucial save for Bologna in their match against Shakhtar Donetsk?
A10: Lukasz Skorupski made a crucial save, stopping an early penalty from Georgiy Sudakov.
