As the Champions League enters its crucial stages, Inter Milan looks set to continue their pursuit of a top-eight spot, traveling to Prague to face the struggling Sparta Prague on Wednesday. With a commanding 13 points from their six group-stage games, the Serie A champions are in an excellent position to secure automatic qualification for the last 16. In contrast, Sparta Prague is fighting for survival, with just four points from six matches and facing the prospect of elimination from Europe.
Inter Milan’s Road to Qualification Simone Inzaghi’s side has been impressive this season, losing only three of their last 29 matches across all competitions. Inter Milan’s defense, which was previously impervious, suffered a first defeat of the season against Bayer Leverkusen, but they remain one of the favorites to progress from their group. Key players like Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram have been in great form, contributing to their winning run in Serie A. Inter Milan also boasts a new record of six consecutive away victories in Serie A without conceding.
Sparta Prague’s Struggles in Europe On the other hand, Sparta Prague has had a disappointing
Champions League campaign, failing to win any of their last four group-stage matches. Their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages are hanging by a thread, with only a victory against Inter Milan and a win in their final match against Leverkusen giving them a slim chance of survival. Despite an initial strong start to the season, Sparta Prague’s form has taken a downturn, with several heavy defeats, including a 6-0 loss to Atletico Madrid.
Team News and Potential Lineups
Inter Milan will still be missing key players like Yann Bisseck, Hakan Calhanoglu, and Joaquin Correa due to injury, but they will welcome back defensive duo Benjamin Pavard and Francesco Acerbi. Midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan could return to the starting lineup, with Lautaro Martinez likely to lead the attack.
For Sparta Prague, Albion Rrahmani and Victor Olatunji could pose the biggest threat to Inter, as both players have been involved in scoring goals this season. However, the Czech side will be without long-term absentees Imanol Garcia and Angelo Preciado, while Lukas Haraslin continues to recover from a hamstring injury.
Prediction
Given the stark contrast in form and quality, Inter Milan is expected to dominate this matchup. Sparta Prague’s struggles in defense and Inter’s solid all-around game make the Serie A side favorites to win. We predict a 2-0 victory for Inter Milan, which would bring them closer to securing qualification for the knockout stages.
Final Thoughts
With both teams heading in opposite directions in the Champions League, this game looks to be a straightforward win for the Italian giants. Sparta Prague will need a miracle to overcome their opponents and keep their European hopes alive.
