Manchester City know all too well how tough Inter are to crack. The greatest night in their history, the 2022 Champions League final, was not without its problems; its heartbreaking moments have gilded the legend. This was a fresh reminder of the quality of Simone Inzaghi’s Italian champions, albeit without the same level of drama.

The City fans had come to see Erling Haaland and the striker’s latest assault on the history books. If he had scored here, he would have become the fastest player to reach 100 goals for a club, narrowly surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for Real Madrid. This was game No. 104 for Haaland. Ronaldo took 105.

Nobody really saw Haaland, save for a few flashes in the first half; he still has 99 goals ahead of Sunday’s Premier League visit of Arsenal. And nobody saw enough of City, though they almost stole him in injury time when substitute Ilkay Gundogan headed straight at Yann Sommer from close range. Gundogan went close with a diving header.

It would have been cruel for Inter, who created the better chances throughout, but as in the final they lacked an edge. At least they had something to show on this occasion of a performance of control and balance.

Simone Inzaghi said this wasn’t a rematch of the final; Pep Guardiola admitted he hadn’t watched the match in full until Monday. But it was there, and not just because highlights were replayed on the Etihad’s big screen in the countdown to kick-off, Rodri’s goal available from every angle. Did anyone really believe Inzaghi’s no-revenge line?

Guardiola handed Rodri his first start of the season, although the biggest team news came at the other end, with Inzaghi naming Lautaro Martínez as one of his replacements. The Inter captain and talisman, who scored the winning goal for Argentina in the Copa América in mid-July, has struggled in Serie A so far this season.

City, in their not so traditional cream/light peach shirts, a collaboration with Oasis, started looking to play high and dominate the ball. And yet it was difficult for them, the first half an unusual grind, purely because Inter – as in Istanbul – were well drilled in their 3-5-2 system, moving cleverly, comfortable in and out of possession.

Inter compressed the space in their defensive third as City pressed and there were times in the first half when Inzaghi’s team played City through with surprising ease. With Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne occupying high positions, Inter could see inviting spaces between the lines. They were a threat on the counter. If only they had timed their runs a little better; the offside flag was their enemy. Or been more clinical with their shooting – Marcus Thuram was the chief offender.

It was close but not quite for Inter before the break, with Inzaghi struggling in his technical area, including when Thuram failed to collect a back pass from Piotr Zielinski and when Ederson denied the overlapping Hakan Calhanoglu at the near post. Inter could also point to the moment when Mehdi Taremi chipped home with Ederson out of position after making a loose save; Josko Gvardiol headed clear.

Guardiola sprinted to the dressing room at half-time with much to discuss. City lacked momentum in the final third of the game, although Savinho beat Carlos Augusto for pace. Inter defended solidly.

City’s best chance of the first half came when De Bruyne cut back from the left, but Silva couldn’t get his feet right and miscued. Erling Haaland headed straight at Sommer, but shot just wide. Savinho fired high from a De Bruyne cross, but Haaland couldn’t reach it.

Guardiola reshaped his midfield for the second half, introducing Phil Foden and Ilkay Gundogan in attacking central roles and moving Silva to the right. Savinho and De Bruyne came off, the latter needing treatment after a merger with Sommer. It was only Foden’s second appearance of the season.

This match was certainly subdued for long stretches, the home crowd hungry for a spark and sometimes left feeling a bit nervous, while Inter continued to search for a counter-attack in the second half. Inzaghi thought they had it in the 53rd minute when Taremi cut in from the left and let Matteo Darmian run inside the box. He had to shoot and yet he searched for a backheeled pass that was never given. Cue another breakdown from Inzaghi.

The Inter manager was said to be on his knees and thrashing about as substitute Henrikh Mkhitaryan fired high from a low cross by another substitute, Denzel Dumfries. Mkhitaryan should have done better.

City went close when Foden went straight at Sommer and Gvardiol also got the Inter keeper working. Then came the final headers from Gundogan. Inter were all worth for the equaliser.