ETIHAD STADIUM, MANCHESTER — How do you stop Erling Haaland?
It’s the million-dollar question in English and European football right now after Manchester City’s superstar striker started the 2024/25 campaign in blistering form.
Consecutive hat-tricks against Ipswich Town and West Ham preceded a matchwinning brace against Brentford and Haaland’s overall haul of nine goals is a competition record after four games of a Premier League season.
However, on Wednesday night at the Etihad Stadium, Inter Milan hit upon an effective formula as the two 2023 finalists played out a 0-0 UEFA Champions League draw in the all-new league phase.
Haaland was restricted to 14 touches — the fewest of any starter on either team — with only two of those in the Inter box. The 24-year-old had three attempts on goal, with one header on target, one shot blocked and a first-half daisy cutter that squirmed past the post.
So, how did Inter do it?
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Guardiola: Inter marked Haaland with six players
“There were six players around him, three behind, three in front,” Guardiola exclaimed before crediting the work of Inter’s three centre-backs Yann Bisseck, Alessandro Bastoni and Francesco Acerbi and the midfield trio of Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu and Piotr Zielinski in front of them.
“That makes it difficult for any player,” he continued. “We tried to use the spaces, that is why [Ilkay] Gundogan had a couple of chances.
“I knew Inter would play like that. Credit to them. We created a couple of really clear opportunities but we didn’t score.”
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Did Inter Milan deserve to beat Man City?
Barella, Calhanoglu and Zielinski also played a key role in Inter’s sustained attacking threat, particularly during the first half when the Nerazzurri’s 10 shots made them the first team to register double figures in attempts in a Champions League game at the Etihad Stadium since Monaco in 2017.
That last-16 tie finished 5-3 on the night to City although they were eventually knocked out on away — events entirely in keeping with Guardiola’s chaotic first season in charge.
This City are a different beast. Aside from Henrik Mkhitaryan's awful miss in the 75th minute, none of Inter's opportunities fell into the clear-cut category. Manuel Akanji was once again imperious at centre-back. And the Premier League side would have got over the line but for Gundogan's usually ice-cold finishing betraying him at the death.
Guardiola was satisfied with their efforts despite failing to find the net for just the second time in 42 Champions League home games.
Man City (2.32) 0-0 (0.60) Inter Milan
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“[Inter] are a great team. I admire the way they play,” he added, “Really quick in the transition phase. They find spaces. I like the way they play. That’s why I am saying we did well. We played a good game. I am really happy.”
Haaland remains on 99 City goals in 104 appearances. If he scores against Arsenal on Sunday, he will match the European record Cristiano Ronaldo set at Real Madrid in 2011 when he went ton-up in his 105th match.
