Manchester City are entering a fresh chapter under new manager Enzo Maresca, following the departure of Pep Guardiola. Having previously worked within the club's setup, Maresca is expected to preserve City's possession-based philosophy while gradually introducing his own tactical adjustments rather than completely reinventing the team.

The squad has also undergone notable changes this summer. Nathan Aké, John Stones, and Bernardo Silva have all moved on, while England midfielder Elliot Anderson arrived in a blockbuster €135 million transfer to strengthen the engine room.

City's preseason tour in Asia serves as the ideal platform for Maresca to refine his ideas and evaluate the squad. After this meeting with Inter, the Premier League champions are scheduled to face the K League All-Stars and Atlético Madrid. Although the result is secondary, the players will be eager to impress the new manager, making this an important early test despite the inevitable rotation throughout the match.

Inter begin the new campaign as Serie A champions, with Cristian Chivu remaining in charge after guiding the Nerazzurri to domestic glory in his debut season. With confidence high, the Italian giants are aiming to build on last year's success while preserving the core of their title-winning squad.

The Milan club have strengthened selectively in the transfer market, bringing in promising midfielder Aleksandar Stanković and experienced goalkeeper Ivan Provedel, though the departure of Denzel Dumfries has left a gap to fill.

Inter opened preseason with a victory over Karlsruher before embarking on their Asian tour. Facing Manchester City represents one of their biggest challenges before further high-profile friendlies against Milan and Juventus. Chivu will use this encounter to assess his side against elite opposition, focusing on defensive organization, tactical discipline, and quick transitions while identifying any remaining weaknesses before competitive fixtures begin.

Head-to-head facts

The two clubs have met four times, with Manchester City winning two, Inter one, and one match ending in a draw.

Inter have never scored against Manchester City in an official competition.

Their most iconic meeting came in the 2023 UEFA Champions League final, where Manchester City secured a historic 1-0 victory to lift their first European crown.