Piotr Zieliński helps Inter edge Manchester City on penalties

Piotr Zieliński played a decisive role as Inter Milan came through a pre-season test against Manchester City, with the Serie A side winning on penalties after a draw in normal time. The Poland midfielder was introduced at half-time and went on to become one of the key figures in the shootout.

Inter and City share the game in normal time

Even without a full cast of star names on the pitch, this was still a fixture that carried weight. Inter had already come through one summer friendly against Karlsruher SC, but Manchester City represented a far more demanding examination.

For the English side, it was also a notable occasion as the first match under new head coach Enzo Maresca, who has taken over from Pep Guardiola. City were not at full strength, which tempered expectations, but there was still anticipation around how the team would look in its first outing under new leadership.

The match finished level at 1-1, with both goals arriving before the interval. Divin Mubama opened the scoring for City after being picked out by Antoine Semenyo, before Inter responded through Benjamin Pavard following a scramble in the penalty area.

Zieliński introduced after the break

Zieliński was not involved in the first half and only entered the game at the start of the second period. His appearance nevertheless proved significant, particularly once the teams moved to penalties after the draw.

The midfielder has had an unusual summer. After Poland failed to come through the play-offs and therefore missed the 2026 World Cup, Zieliński spoke openly about how strange it would feel to be at home in June rather than preparing for a major tournament. That disappointment has at least given him more time for rest and training ahead of the new club season.

Inter are still working through pre-season with a squad that is not yet complete, as several players remain away after their summer breaks. Even so, this was another useful step in preparations, and Zieliński made sure to leave his mark.

Calm finish from the spot

The two clubs had agreed that a draw would be followed by a penalty shootout, ensuring the contest produced an outright winner. Inter were the more composed side from the spot, and Zieliński set the tone immediately.

Taking Inter’s first penalty, he converted confidently, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. Mattia Mosconi and Matteo Lavelli also scored for the Italian side, while Davide Frattesi was the only Inter player to miss.

Manchester City struggled badly in response. Rayan Ait-Nouri, Abdukodir Khusanov and Nico all failed to convert, with Claudio Echeverri the only City player to score in the final round of the shootout.

A useful early statement in pre-season

For Inter, the result offered another encouraging sign in the early stages of summer preparation. For Zieliński, it was a reminder of the qualities he can bring even when entering from the bench: control, experience and composure in a pressure moment.

It may only have been a friendly, but against high-level opposition and in a match that still carried a competitive edge, the Poland international emerged as one of the standout names. Inter will take that as a positive as the build-up to the new campaign continues.