Manchester City vs Inter Milan
Premier League runners-up Manchester City take on Italian champions Inter Milan at the Kai Tak Stadium for a handy warm-up for both teams and a treat for the Hong Kong fans.
Cristian Chivu took Inter to the Serie A title in his very first season as head coach, and his team is backed to follow that up again in 2026-27, while Enzo Maresca takes control of Manchester City in his first confrontation with one of Europe’s truly elite clubs.
Talking Points
Manchester City expectations
The Sky Blues are preparing to launch their challenge to champions Arsenal, and new manager Maresca knows how to win the title after working in Pep Guardiola’s coaching team before a successful stint at Leicester City. City failed to chase down the Gunners last season, and despite winning a domestic cup double, they had to sit by and watch Arsenal win the Premier League title and reach the final of the Champions League.
The Sky Blues are the most likely to take the title off Arsenal according to the early Club Friendly 2026 betting odds here at SBOTOP, and if they make a fast start, they may take some stopping, particularly as goal machine Erling Haaland showed how hungry he is when he starred for Norway at the World Cup finals.
Players to watch
Very early in the window, the Sky Blues dominated the Club Friendly 2026 news headlines when midfield ace Eliott Anderson moved to Manchester City from Nottingham Forest for a whopping £116 million. While the price tag will weigh heavily if he struggles to make an impression, he comes with an impressive track record. The 23-year-old has already earned 17 international caps and scored six goals from 75 games with Forest. Anderson, along with Haaland, has been granted extended leave following the World Cup, so he won’t feature just yet.
One player I’m keen to see is 25-year-old attacking midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, who signed last year and started the season brilliantly, making assists which drew comparisons to the departed Kevin De Bruyne. But he was overshadowed by Rayan Cherki, who put in some electric performances in the second half of the campaign.
Another City star of last season who won’t be lining up against I Nerazzurri is centre-back John Stones, who has agreed a deal in principle to join Inter after he was released following a glittering career at the Etihad. Arsenal, Chelsea, and Juventus have all been linked with Stones, but Inter are at the front of the queue. Who knows, Stones may be a surprise addition in the Nerazzurri lineup.
Inter Milan expectations
After winning the 2026 Scudetto in fine style, Chivu’s men are the team to beat again in Serie A, with the betting odds making Inter strong favourites. Napoli, under the management of Massimiliano Allegri, will be a threat, as will AC Milan, without Champions League football again, and the resurgent Juventus.
Players to watch
Captain Lautaro Martinez is always a player to keep your eyes on as a full-blooded striker, a lethal finisher, and a great leader. The 28-year-old has scored 132 goals in 267 games for Inter Milan and 40 in 84 internationals. He scored the stoppage-time winner in Argentina’s World Cup win over England, and with a one in two ratio for club and country, he is one of the very best in the business.
At the other end of the pitch, Manuel Akanji, who has signed a permanent deal from Manchester City, is a classy operator as either a full-back or centre half.
History
This is a meeting of two of Europe’s most successful sides. Inter Milan are three-time Champions League winners and 21-time Scudetto champions, while Manchester won their first Champions League in 2023 and are 10-time English top-flight champions with six Premier League titles from the last 10 campaigns.
In terms of head-to-head results, Manchester City have won two of the four meetings with Inter, drawing one, while I Nerazzurri won a friendly when they first met back in 2010. And form at the end of the last campaign is comparable, with City winning three, drawing two, and losing one of their last six, while I Nerazzurri won four and lost two.
Betting Tip
With Inter Milan priced at 3.75 and the Draw at 4.05, I think the fans in Hong Kong are in for a treat on Saturday, and Maresca will be keen to give the Sky Blue supporters something to cheer as the new season approaches.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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