Man City vs Inter Milan LIVE: Champions League result and reaction as hosts play out goalless draw

If the revamped Champions League was supposed to inject the competition with more drama, perhaps Uefa could still savour the scoreline in a stalemate. Manchester City scored 18 goals in their pool matches last season but it was more an indictment of the group stages than an advertisement for it as they cruised through. With a new format, Inter Milan instead illustrated why they had run City so close in the 2023 final. As European heavyweights collided again, English and Italian champions proved evenly matched.

There was sad news, meanwhile, with the passing of Toto Schillaci, who so illuminated Italia ‘90.

We await news on Manchester City’s captain, but Arsenal’s skipper appears certain to miss Sunday’s crucial clash of Premier League title rivals - Mikel Arteta confirmed today that Martin Odegaard is set for a spell on the sidelines after his “significant” ankle injury.

The new format is not to everyone’s taste, though, as Miguel Delaney explained after the revamped tournament’s opening night:

“We played so good. They defended really, really well, they are the masters at defending. We only conceded one and a half chances, so I am really, really pleased with the performance.

“Yann Sommer made two good saves. We had not a lot, but some clear chances. It’s the beginning of the season, these players will be better. It was Phil’s first game for two months. With more time, we’ll be better. Rodri was really good, he’s always really good.

“I haven’t spoken with the doctors yet [about Kevin de Bruyne].”

“Very intense game against a very strong opponent. They are a top team, they are used to winning. The team had a great performance, we were very close to scoring. We’ll take it and move forward, but it was a very good test for us.

“We knew they could be dangerous in different scenarios. In transitions, they can be very dangerous - we knew that very well, especially since the final. These are the ones we love, these ones make it mean more in terms of keeping a clean sheet, so we are happy with that.

“The season has just started. It’s very early stages. We know what we are in a team, and today we were on a good level. There is a lot of margin to progress. We know Arsenal very well, and it’s going to be a very intense game. It’s never too early to play a clash like this.”

Did both sides perhaps have one eye on tasty league business to come on Sunday? It appears as if Manchester City, like rivals Arsenal, could be shorn of their captain for a crunch Premier League clash, while Inter Milan were perhaps conserving some energy for the Derby della Madonnina.

Appreciative hand slaps from Simone Inzaghi to his Inter Milan side, a goalless draw about a fair result given how the visitors managed to stymie and slow Manchester City. There were semi-regular chances at both ends, though perhaps not clearcut enough for the game to ever threaten to become a true thriller.

A point apiece to kick start their campaigns in this new competition format.

Into the final 60 seconds of the additional period. Manchester City play right then left, then back to the right...headed over by Ilkay Gundogan! Another golden opportunity for the German but he fails to find the target.