Man City thrash Inter to claim first CL win of season
Manchester City came from behind to beat Inter Milan in style for their first Champions League win of the season.
The English champions started without Lauren Hemp and rested Khadija Shaw for the duration of the success, which provided a timely boost before Saturday’s crunch Women’s Super League match against title rivals Chelsea.
Inter went ahead against the run of play in the 24th minute as Elisa Bartoli glanced a header beyond the dive of City goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita.
But the Italian side held their lead for just nine minutes as the stunned visitors stormed back.
City drew level through Aoba Fujino, who was found behind the Inter defence by a brilliant through-ball from England international Laura Blindkilde Brown.
Having scored her first goal of the season against West Ham on Saturday, Fujino made it three in two games on the stroke of half-time as she was first to react after Cecilia Ran Runarsdottir denied Mary Fowler.
Dutch full-back Kerstin Casparij then combined with Sam Coffey to score a third, hitting a delightful finish inside a congested penalty box.
Substitute Hemp completed a trademark dribble with a chipped ball to the back post where Grace Clinton steered the ball in to make it 4-1.
Inter had not been without opportunities, though, as Yamashita denied Hayley Bujega with a fingertip save on the stretch, and also reacted quickly to stop a shot by Michela Cambiaghi from close range.
The victory moved City up to seventh place in the league phase table on six points, with Inter in 11th spot.
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This win went some way to silence any concerns around whether City will be able to juggle their WSL title defence and a Champions League campaign this season.
The draws earned in their first three games upon returning to the European stage, albeit against some of the competition’s stronger opponents, underwhelmed next to sparkling domestic form.
Manager Andree Jeglertz’s decision to rest key players in Italy had posed a vital test for his squad depth and quality.
Before the Inter game, he insisted “our identity should always be recognised”, irrespective of fixture congestion or who they come up against.
Australia forward Fowler, though, could not produce a performance faithful to the rested Shaw, missing several good chances.
But Fujino’s fine form continued and Clinton seized upon the opportunity given to her, scoring her first goal in almost a year, having been given few opportunities to shine since signing for City in 2025.
Jeglertz will be looking for his WSL leaders to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign when they visit second-placed Chelsea on Saturday, and then travel to Swedish side Hacken on Wednesday in their next Champions League tie.
