MANCHESTER, England — This is exactly what UEFA had in mind when it revamped the Champions League, pitting two top teams against each other in the revamped league stage instead of waiting until the knockout rounds for the best matches. The only thing missing from Manchester City’s 0-0 draw with Internazionale was goals.

There should have been a few. Former Manchester United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan came off the bench to fire Inter’s best chance over the bar. It was a chance so good that manager Simone Inzaghi fell to the ground and began to pound the grass with his fist.

The Inter boss had already spotted Mkhitaryan’s former Old Trafford team-mate Matteo Darmian inexplicably trying to slide the ball through to Nicolò Barella when everyone in the stadium expected him to shoot. Chances don’t come often for away teams at the Etihad Stadium and the Italian champions were nearly made to pay for their waste when Ilkay Gundogan was twice confronted with close-range headers in the dying minutes.

Ultimately, 466 days after their meeting in the 2023 final in Istanbul, both Inzaghi and Pep Guardiola could argue that their team should have won, while secretly also being relieved that they had not lost.

“We played so well,” said Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.

“I love my team, we are a fantastic team. Inter is a team that defends very well. They are masters of defence and also of transitions.”

City have not lost a Champions League group stage match at the Etihad since a 2-1 defeat to Lyon six years ago. Under Guardiola, they have made a habit of dealing with these early games quickly and quickly turning their attention to the business side of the competition.

Inter have at least provided a reminder that the new phase of the competition — with games against other top favorites — will be more complicated to navigate. City were so good in the Champions League that Inter arrived in Manchester as heavy underdogs. But Inter are the best team in Italy for a reason.

With wing-backs Darmian and Carlos Augusto staying high and wide, Barella could find space anywhere in midfield and quickly pass the ball to Marcus Thuram and Mehdi Taremi. Guardiola watched the changeover after changeover with his head in his hands. He was so fed up with Barella by the end of the first half that when the Inter midfielder picked up the ball again on the halfway line, he threw his hands in the air and turned away in disgust.

That particular attack was only ended when goalkeeper Ederson made a fine save at his near post from Augusto. It was one of 10 shots Inter had in the first half – the first time an opponent had had 10 or more shots in the first half of a Champions League match at the Etihad since AS Monaco in February 2017. It was no surprise that when the half-time whistle finally sounded, Guardiola turned and ran down the tunnel to take a lead on his instructions.

His solution was to bring on Gundogan in place of Kevin De Bruyne, who had been injured, and Phil Foden in place of Savinho, which helped City gain control and create chances of their own.

Foden fired straight at Yann Sommer after a tricky pass from Jack Grealish, and Gundogan should have done better with his two late headers. The first from Josko Gvardiol’s cross should have gone somewhere other than into Sommer’s grateful gloves. For only the second time in 42 home Champions League games under Guardiola, City failed to find the net.

Afterwards, Inzaghi said his players had delivered “a great performance”.

“I said well done lads,” he said. “I asked them to play exactly as they did. We all know Manchester City and what they can do. We knew we had to give it our all and play a great game, and we did that. We also created some really good chances. If we work well together as a team, we make it difficult for everyone.”

Inter’s performance, which came with captain Lautaro Martínez on the bench for 66 minutes, showed they are a Champions League contender.

But in giving as much as they got, City did the same. They have reached the knockout stages for 11 consecutive years and, despite looking vulnerable at times, they had chances to win and Guardiola was more pleased than frustrated. There will be little doubt that City will make it 12 in a row after Christmas. In UEFA’s new format, two of Europe’s best teams met early on and there was enough on display at the Etihad to suggest they could meet again as the competition reaches its peak.

“We gave away one and a half chances and could hardly create any chances when a team with 11 players defends so deep,” Guardiola concluded.

“They help each other so well. I’m happy with our performances, I liked everything. It’s the beginning of the season, the performances will be better, with more time we will be better.”