Manchester City braces for Inter Milan reunion; PSG starts without stars against Girona

Manchester City prepares for Champions League reunion with Inter Milan in expanded tournament, facing tough competition for 2023 title.

Manchester City is braced for its Champions League reunion with Inter Milan at the start of an expanded tournament that will be “so tough” for the 2023 winner.

Pep Guardiola’s side beat Inter 1-0 in the final two seasons ago as Rodri’s goal clinched its first Champions League crown on a memorable night in Istanbul.

City defender Manuel Akanji is not a fan of the new model because of the extra burden it will place on players in a gruelling season which will conclude with Guardiola’s men competing in the Club World Cup in the United States.

It will be fascinating to see how Guardiola goes about competing for another European title and a fifth successive Premier League crown amid the financial breaches case that could plunge the club into turmoil.

Rodri played his first 45 minutes of the season against Brentford after a hamstring injury suffered in the Euro 2024 final victory against England.

With England defenders John Stones and Kyle Walker also making their first starts this term, Guardiola is close to having all his stars available just in time for a hectic period.

For more than a decade, Paris Saint-Germain’s Qatari owners have spent lavishly to attract big stars.