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Enzo Maresca takes charge of his first Manchester City game as the Blues face Inter Milan in their pre-season friendly opener in Hong Kong.
The game marks a historic moment for the club – Maresca’s first competitive outing as City manager since his appointment following the resolution of the compensation dispute with Chelsea earlier this summer, beginning what he and director of football Hugo Viana hope will be a title-challenging era at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City travel to Hong Kong without several of their most prominent international players, with those who represented England, Norway, Spain and France at the FIFA World Cup in North America remaining on extended post-tournament rest and not considered for the touring squad at this stage of pre-season.
The touring party nonetheless carries genuine first-team quality, with players across every position available to Maresca as he begins the process of implementing the tactical identity and organisational principles he laid out in his first press conference at the club earlier this month.
Gianluigi Donnarumma starts in goal for the first time under his new manager, with the Italy international having spent the summer free from FIFA World Cup involvement and fully prepared for the opening fixture of Maresca’s tenure.
The game also provides a platform for several players whose futures at the Etihad Stadium remain uncertain, including those at the fringes of Maresca’s long-term plans who will view the pre-season programme as an opportunity to stake a first-team claim before the window closes and competitive football begins in earnest.
Ahead of Saturday’s 19:30 HKT (12:30 UK) kick-off at the Kai Tak Stadium, here are the confirmed line-ups:
Manchester City
Starting XI: Donnarumma; Lewis, Khusanov, Gvardiol, Mfuni; Kovacic, Reijnders, Foden (C), Savinho, Mubama, Semenyo
Substitutes: Bettinelli, Wint, Chabot, Nico Gonzalez, Ait-Nouri, Reis, Echeverri, Monga, McAidoo, Braithwaite, Mukasa, Alleyne, Sangare, F. Samba, Heskey
Inter Milan
Starting XI: Martinez; Pavard, Bisseck, Carlos Augusto; Diouf, Barella, Stankovic, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Esposito, Iddrissou
Substitutes: Di Gennaro, Provedel, Farronato, Zielinski, Sucic, Luis Henrique, Bonny, Frattesi, Calhanoglu, Bovio, Mosconi, Lavelli, Marello, Maye, Topalovic, Bastoni
Match Report & Player Ratings: Manchester City 1-1 (1-3 Penalties) Inter (Pre-Season Friendly)
Predicted Starting XI: Manchester City vs Inter (Pre-Season Friendly)
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Source: Cityxtra.co.uk
