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This content was machine-translated from the French version.
Enzo Maresca had hoped for a different scenario for his first match on the Manchester City bench. On Saturday, August 1st at the Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong, in front of 42,286 spectators, the Italian saw his team concede a draw against Inter Milan (1-1) before losing 3-1 on penalties. Benjamin Pavard, who scored for the Nerazzurri, was one of the men of the match. The Hong Kong venue, which was hosting its first international football match since its renovation, provided a vibrant setting for this gala fixture between the English champions and the Italian champions.
The match, organized as part of the Cityzens' Asian tour, pitted two European giants in the midst of their summer rebuilding. Deprived of many internationals still on holiday after the World Cup, Maresca and Simone Inzaghi had fielded heavily reshuffled starting lineups, mixing experienced players and young prospects. Maresca, who succeeded Pep Guardiola this summer, was playing his first friendly match at the helm of the Skyblues.
The match, organized as part of the Cityzens' Asian tour, pitted two European giants in the midst of their summer rebuilding.
An English start, an Italian response
City struck first. In the 13th minute, Antoine Semenyo broke down the left flank, beat his marker, and pulled the ball back for Divin Mubama. Alone at the far post, the 21-year-old young striker only had to push the ball into the empty net. A logical opening goal given how the Skyblues dominated the start of the match with their intensity.
Inter did not take long to respond. Six minutes later, from a corner poorly cleared by the English defense, Benjamin Pavard surged at the penalty spot and unleashed a powerful right-footed strike that flew under the crossbar past Gianluigi Donnarumma. The French defender, starting in the center of the three-man defense, celebrated his goal with a furious fist pump in front of the Milanese ultras. This goal rewarded the Italians' growing momentum, as they had gradually freed themselves from the English pressing.
The rest of regulation time saw the two teams cancel each other out, despite some clear chances on both sides. Maresca made numerous substitutions in the second half, giving playing time to the academy youngsters.
A one-sided shootout
The penalty shootout was short-lived for Manchester City. After each team converted their first attempt, the Cityzens missed two consecutive kicks. The third Milanese taker converted his attempt without flinching, sealing a 3-1 win on penalties and offering the Nerazzurri fans present in Hong Kong a first symbolic trophy, the Asahi Super Dry Cup, named after the tour's sponsor.
Enzo Maresca did not appear disheartened after the match. "I am happy with the performance," he said. "We saw good things in the organization, even if not everything is in place yet. It's pre-season; the result matters less than the lessons learned." For Simone Inzaghi, this success confirms the good momentum of a team preparing to defend the Scudetto with ambition.
Lessons on the City side
The Asian tour has a dual purpose for Manchester City: to fine-tune the automatisms under Maresca and to integrate the new signings. Divin Mubama, who arrived on a free transfer from West Ham, scored points with his goal and his activity up front. Semenyo, also a new arrival, showed his ability to make a difference on the ball. Maresca was also able to test a 4-2-3-1 system, different from Guardiola's favored 3-2-4-1, with less aggressive pressing phases but better coverage of spaces in transition.
Pavard's presence among the scorers and his solid defensive performance are a positive note for the French camp, a few weeks before the resumption of the leagues. Inter will follow up with another friendly match before returning to Serie A, while City continues its tour with a trip to Japan.
