Manchester City began their pre-season with a penalty shootout defeat to Inter Milan after a 1-1 draw in Hong Kong. Enzo Maresca’s side took the lead through Divin Mubama but were pegged back by Benjamin Pavard before losing 4-2 on penalties.
What happened in the match?
Manchester City started brightly, with Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal for his first appearance under new manager Enzo Maresca. Inter had the first big chance when Francesco Pio Esposito missed a close-range opportunity. City took the lead when Mubama tapped in Antoine Semenyo’s cross, but Pavard equalized after Donnarumma saved Federico Dimarco’s shot. Both sides had further chances, with City hitting the woodwork twice.
Why did Manchester City lose the shootout?
The penalty shootout saw City miss their first two attempts, with Rayan Ait-Nouri and Abdukodir Khusanov failing to convert. Donnarumma saved Davide Frattesi’s penalty, but Inter’s Ivan Provedel also saved from Nico Gonzalez. Only Claudio Echeverri scored for City, while Inter converted three of their four penalties.
What does this mean for Manchester City’s pre-season?
This was City’s first pre-season match under Maresca, who replaced Pep Guardiola. The match provided valuable minutes for new signings and young players, with City showing both promise and areas for improvement. The team will now focus on refining their tactics ahead of the new Premier League season.
