BALTIMORE — Hosting two of Europe’s biggest clubs, the Charm city was given an Italian treat on Saturday night, as Inter Milan defeated Manchester City, 3-0.

Following the success of last summer’s World Football Challenge, 36,569 fans gathered at M&T Bank Stadium for an all-European pre-season friendly.

Defeating Europe’s reigning champions is no simple task, an early send-off to City’s Patrick Viera only hardened the task.  A first-half goal from Inter’s Nsofor Victor Obinna served as the match winner, in a rather one-sided outing.

Inter added two more second-half goals when Joleon Lescott was credited with an own goal, with much thanks to another wonderful effort from Obinna, and Cristiano Biraghi struck home a 20-plus yard strike in the 74th minute.

The match’s first half hour of play was from the entertaining show it was intended to be. City’s Vincent Kompany and Inter’s Goran Pandev were both booked in the 19th minute after a hard foul from the Manchester defender, to which Pandev returned with a shoving.

With tempers beginning to flair, Viera was ejected for poor tackle on Marco Materazzi.

City, without head coach Roberto Mancini – who returned home on Friday to deal with an illness in the family, were handcuffed by the Viera red card. Forward Emmanuel Adebayor was alone to fend for himself, as City displayed a 5-3-1 formation, in an effort to hold off the Inter attack.

“I think that meant that the game was good and important for everyone, we wanted to improve.  Sometimes these things (red cards) happen…it is good for the game,” Milan coach, Rafael Benitez said.

The scoreline changed in the 38th minute as Obinna struck home a precise, left-footed shot to the far post, past Joe Hart, for the 1-0 lead.

Looking to garner minutes for many of the players, City entered the second half with three new men: Shay Given, Lescott and Gregory Cunningham.

The fresh legs did little for City as Obinna was off to the races again on his left flank, in the 54th minute. This time his shot deflected off the leg of Lescott and past Given, for the own goal and the 2-0 Inter lead.

Milan did its share of minute distribution in the second-half bringing on five substitutes in the 62nd minute. The arrival of Samuel Eto’o drew an applause from the spectators. 

It didn’t take Eto’o to make his presence felt in the match.  A through ball had Eto’o positioned to take on Given at goal.  A fine defensive effort from substitute Dedryck Boyata, was able to slow Eto’o enough that his forced shot could be stopped by Given.

Yet, the real cheers of the night came in the 74th minute.  After a Milan corner, the ball swung around to Biraghi.  The young midfielder let loose a vicious strike to the near post past a helpless Given.  He was then mobbed by his teammates in celebration as the youngster has seen little time on the field for Milan in his career.

“I think that today was very good, the crowd was fantastic, we tried to play well and score some goals,” Benitez said.

The match would finish 3-0, as Milan appeared fit and ready, while City, a team that had been in the States too long and wanted to return home.

“I’m really pleased with the performance of the team – they played really well today,” Benitez said.

Judging by Baltimore’s efforts toward European soccer, it would be no surprise to see some of the world’s best back in Charm city next summer.  For now, Baltimore will have to savor this Italian treat.