Manchester City knows only too well how tough Inter are. The greatest night in their history, the triumph in the 2022 Champions League final, was not without difficulties; the heartbreaking moments have gilded the legend. This was another reminder of the quality of Simone Inzaghi’s Italian champions, albeit without the same level of drama.

City fans had come to see Erling Haaland and the striker’s latest attack go down in the history books. Had he scored here, he would have become the fastest player to reach 100 goals for a club, just surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for Real Madrid. For Haaland, this was game number 104. Ronaldo scored 105.

Nobody really saw much of Haaland, apart from a few moments in the first half. He still has 99 goals ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League visit on Sunday. And nobody saw enough of City, although they almost scored again in stoppage time when substitute Ilkay Gundogan headed straight at Yann Sommer from close range. Gundogan came even closer with a diving header.

It would have been cruel for Inter, who had the better chances throughout the match, but as in the final they lacked the cutting edge. At least this time they were able to show some control and balance.

Simone Inzaghi said this was not a replay of the final; Pep Guardiola admitted he had only watched the game in full on Monday. But it was there, and not just because the highlights were repeated on the Etihad’s big screen in the countdown to kick-off, with Rodri’s goal visible from every angle. Did anyone really believe Inzaghi’s statement that there should be no revenge?

Guardiola started Rodri for the first time this season, but the most important news came from the other side: Inzaghi named Lautaro Martínez among his substitutes. The Inter captain and talisman, who scored Argentina’s winning goal at the Copa América in mid-July, has struggled so far this season in Serie A.

City, in their not-so-traditional cream/light peach shirts, a collaboration with Oasis, wanted to play high and dominate the ball. And yet it was hard for them, the first half an unusually arduous struggle, simply because Inter – as in Istanbul – were well-drilled in their 3-5-2 system, moving smartly and being confident in and out of possession.

Inter tightened the space in their defensive third when City pressed and there were moments in the first half when Inzaghi’s team played through City with surprising ease. With Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne occupying high positions, Inter were able to create inviting spaces between the lines. They were dangerous on the counterattack. If only they could have timed some of their runs a little better; the offside flag was their enemy. Or if they could have been more accurate when shooting – Marcus Thuram was the main culprit.

Inter almost won before half-time, but not quite. Inzaghi had to endure difficult times in his defensive zone, including when Thuram failed to hold onto a back pass from Piotr Zielinski and when Ederson parried the overrunning Hakan Calhanoglu at the near post. Inter could also point to the moment when Mehdi Taremi chipped the ball towards goal after Ederson’s failed attempt to clear; Josko Gvardiol headed the ball away.

Guardiola sprinted to the dressing room at half-time because there was a lot to discuss. City lacked penetration in the final third, although Savinho had the edge over Carlos Augusto in terms of pace. Inter defended bravely.

City’s best chance of the first half came when De Bruyne cut back from the left but Silva couldn’t control his feet and missed. Erling Haaland headed straight at Sommer and his shot went just wide. Savinho fired high into the net after De Bruyne’s cross was out of reach of Haaland.

Guardiola reshuffled his midfield for the second half, moving Phil Foden and Ilkay Gundogan into the attacking centre positions and Silva to the right. Savinho and De Bruyne were forced off, the latter requiring treatment after a collision with Sommer. It was only Foden’s second appearance of the season.

This game was subdued for long stretches, the home fans yearning for a spark and embarrassed at times as Inter continued to search for the counter-attack in the second half. Inzaghi thought they had landed it in the 53rd minute when Taremi cut in from the left and allowed Matteo Darmian to charge inside the box. He had to shoot but he looked for a backheel pass that never arrived. Another Inzaghi breakdown.

The Inter coach was on his knees, punching the ground, as substitute Henrikh Mkhitaryan slammed a low cross into the net from another substitute, Denzel Dumfries. Mkhitaryan should have done better.

City came close when Foden took aim at Sommer and Gvardiol also pressed the Inter goalkeeper. Then came Gündogan’s last-gasp headers. Inter absolutely deserved the draw.