Inter Milan kick off their Champions League campaign with a mouth-watering contest against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on September 18.

The Nerazzurri will face eight teams in a league phase in the revamped competition, and they would have preferred to open their account with a more favorable fixture.

The trip to the Etihad will see Inter renew acquaintances with the Premier League champions after their gut-wrenching defeat in the 2022/23 Champions League final.

The Serie A giants put up a decent fight against City. They pushed the English giants down to the wire but eventually fell short thanks to a belter from Rodri.

There will be an air of revenge when Inter journey to the Etihad for the midweek showdown, but their chances of coming away with maximum points are slim.

However, the Serie A champions will back themselves to give their Premier League counterparts a run for their money, given their strong start to the 2024/25 season.

The Champions League final in Istanbul is the only previous competitive meeting between the two sides, but Inter’s performance was commendable.

The three-time Champions League winners more than held their own and had plenty of chances to level matters with Romelu Lukaku guilty of spurning several goalscoring chances.

Simone Inzaghi’s side proved that they have what it takes to go head-to-head with the Premier League champions despite their modest financial standing.

Inter is a club rich in tradition, given their enormous success both in domestic and international competitions, but they are overshadowed by City’s financial might and squad depth.

Claiming a win against Man City is not beyond the realms of possibility, but to say the Nerazzurri face an uphill task against the Premier League champions would be a massive understatement.

A Potential David Vs Goliath Clash On The Cards

The upcoming Champions League clash between Inter and Man City is shaping up to be a classic David versus Goliath battle. 

Inter are Italian giants with a proud history in football, but many consider them as the underdog in Europe’s biggest tournaments despite winning the Champions League three times.

By contrast, Man City have established themselves as a juggernaut in modern football, backed by the financial power and influence of the City Football Group (CFG).

CFG owns multiple clubs around the world, including Melbourne City FC in Australia, which proves just how far their influence extends.

Australia’s betting community has become increasingly fascinated by Man City’s performances, largely due to their connection to Melbourne City.

Because of the overlap between both clubs, many Aussie punters look beyond their domestic competitions to place bets on Man City in the Premier League and on the European stage.

The inclusion of betting sites bonuses as part of the gambling platforms’ marketing strategy has made it even more appealing for Aussie punters to engage with Man City’s games.

They’ll undoubtedly fancy Man City’s odds of beating Inter again, especially considering Pep Guardiola’s side have kicked off the new campaign in fine form.

Can Inter Spring A Surprise Against Man City?

Financial constraints and the Serie A’s diminishing influence on the global football stage have hampered Inter’s ability to compete with Europe’s wealthiest clubs.

While Man City boast a star-studded squad with world-class talent in every position, Inter’s focus has been on tactical discipline, team cohesion and a resilient defence. 

Despite their financial constraints, Inter’s approach has yielded results as they won Serie A and the Italian Super Cup last season.

Inter have shown they have what it takes to punch above their weight and defy the odds, but they will not find things easy at the Etihad Stadium.

Man City are formidable opponents and head into Wednesday’s showdown as the bookmakers’ favourites, yet football has always been a game where the underdogs can prevail.

The odds may be firmly stacked against Inter, but they are not in uncharted territory and will fancy their chances of upsetting Man City on their own turf.