Sometimes you watch matches like these, with the home side strong favourites but failing to score, and instinctively think, “Hmm, maybe they just need a proper No 9 to provide a penalty box presence?”.
But, of course, having scored eight goals in his previous three games, Erling Haaland is precisely that man for Manchester City. Haaland had a decent attempt roll just wide in the first half, but Inter deserve credit for largely shackling him.
Still, City might feel they could have caused them more problems, particularly in the wide spaces where Inter were undermanned in their 3-5-2 shape.
There was some good combination play, particularly involving Rico Lewis in the right channel, and various players offer a long-range shooting threat, with Josko Gvardiol and Rodri trying their luck.
City’s xG ended up above 1.5 — and yet you still felt that Inter’s defending had merited a clean sheet.
First appeared on www.nytimes.com