Ahead of an eagerly anticipated 2023 Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter, we take a look at the top five Man City games the Premier League side has played against Italian clubs.
The Citizens head into the fixture on the back of an FA Cup final victory over fierce rivals Manchester United thanks to an Ilkay Gundogan double, whilst Inter have concluded their Serie A campaign with a third-placed finish in the standings.
Both City and Inter are yet to face each other in competitive play throughout their history so we are set for an unprecedented affair on Saturday, June 10th at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium.
After despatching serial Champions League winners Real Madrid in the semi-final with a 5-1 aggregate triumph, City enter this one as favorites. However, it won’t be an easy task against an Inter side who got past the likes of cross-city rivals Milan en route to their place in the final in Istanbul.
Top Five Man City Games Against Italian Clubs
5. Man City 5-1 Atalanta Champions League Group Stage 2019/20
The biggest margin for victory for City over an Italian club had to make the list. That occured a little under four years ago as Raheem Sterling took apart Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta with a second half hat-trick that took just 11 minutes to complete. Sergio Aguero had put the hosts ahead by two in the opening period before Sterling ran riot to secure an emphatic win.
The result saw Pep Guardiola’s side take maximum points from their opening three matches in Group C of the Champions League that season and their cut-throat nature continues to strike fear around Europe to this day. Inter will, of course, have to be wary of an affluent City attack this time around, lead by Norwegian star Erling Haaland.
4. Man City 1-0 Juventus UEFA Cup First Round 1976/77
Maine Road played host to City’s maiden fixture against an Italian club as they took on eventual champions Juventus in the first round of the 1976/77 UEFA Cup. The Bianconeri would go on to win the Scudetto that season too, as the likes of Dino Zoff and Roberto Bettega flooded a world-class side.
Despite going on to lose the second leg 2-0 at Stadio Comunale, City will always remember their first leg delight as a Brian Kidd goal secured a narrow 1-0 triumph. It is a victory that they should cherish against a top Juve side that would also go on to win their first European competition in their history that season.
3. Napoli 2-4 Man City Champions League Group Stage 2017/18
Aguero’s impact continues to be felt throughout here and he left his mark during a six-goal thriller in Naples as City came from behind to win. It also signalled the Argentine becoming the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, scoring his 178th goal for the club, whilst City secured their status in yet another last 16 draw.
The match itself was highly anticipated since it was between two sides that were full of life in front of goal and both Napoli and City led the way atop the Serie A and Premier League standings respectively. They were both unbeaten to start the season too. The game was a fantastic example of high-quality football between English and Italian clubs, with a host of stars on show, such as Dries Mertens, Marek Hamsik and Kevin De Bruyne.
2. Roma 0-2 Man City Champions League Group Stage 2014/15
A first victory on Italian soil. Without star men Aguero, Vincent Kompany and Yaya Toure. A monumental group stage turnaround. That is what Manuel Pellegrini’s side delivered in their final chance to qualify for the knockout rounds during the 2014/15 Champions League campaign.
City had picked up just two points from their opening four matches in Group E that season and progression into the last 16 looked extremely slim. They knew they needed nothing but a victory in the Italian capital on the final matchday if they were to advance and they unduly delivered thanks to goals from Samir Nasri and Pablo Zabaleta. An incredible European night for the Citizens.
1. Man City 3-0 Milan UEFA Cup 1978/79 Third Round
Despite an incredibly disappointing domestic season in the English First Division, finishing 15th in the table, Man City defeated a fantastic Milan side in the third round of the UEFA Cup in what will go down as one of their greatest ever European nights. Like against Juve during the 1976/77 season, Kidd got himself on the scoresheet, in both legs too, which would help wrap up a 5-2 aggregate victory to reach the quarter-finals.
Milan would go on to win the Serie A title that season, their first in over ten years, and were known for their strong defense that conceded just 19 goals in the league led by Franco Baresi. The Rossoneri also had the likes of Gianni Rivera, Walter Novellino and Albertino Bigon in their side and had seen European success throughout the 70s, winning the 1972/73 European Cup Winners’ Cup.
The English side were without the likes of Garry Owen, Mick Channon and Peter Barnes for the first leg but managed to secure a 2-2 draw. The match was postponed due to intense fog which gave City a boost, with the rescheduled affair played during the afternoon which would reduce the intensity of the atmosphere at the San Siro. Still, it was a tough ask against a ferocious Milan crowd and the result was crucial before going on to triumph in the return fixture.
The tie was over before the break in Manchester as City raced to a three-goal advantage after goals from Tommy Booth, Asa Hartford and Kidd inside the opening half. The victory is very much deserving of Man City’s best ever match against an Italian club.