23/1/2025–|Last updated: 1/23/202502:00 AM (Mecca time)
Italian Inter took a firm step towards a direct place in the eighth final of the European Champions League competition in its new version, by defeating its Czech host, Sparta Prague, 1-0, in the seventh penultimate round on Wednesday.
The best 8 teams in the final standings qualify for the round of 16, while the next 16 teams advance to a playoff round to determine the other eight teams, and the remaining teams exit without moving on to the Europa League competition.
Inter scored the winning goal after a game started and ended by Argentine Lautaro Martinez with a shot from a tight angle that hit the ground and landed in the net (12).
Inter did not taste loss outside its stronghold in various competitions during the 2024-2025 season, and it also achieved 8 victories in its last nine matches, without conceding a single goal.
Nerazzurri, which faces French club Monaco at home in the last round, raised its score to 16 points in fourth place.
Bayern Munich…a complex task
Bayer Munich, the leader of the German League, complicated its mission by losing to its Dutch host Feyenoord 3-0, with Mexican Santiago Jimenez (21st and 45th + 9th penalty kick) and Japanese substitute Ayase Ueda (89th) scoring in turns.
-Bayern’s balance, which hosts Slovan Bratislava in the last round on the 29th of this month, froze at 12 points in 15th place, one point behind Feyenoord in 11th place.
It is the third loss for the Bavaria giant after falling to Aston Villa, England, 0-1, and Barcelona, Spain, 1-4, compared to 4 victories.
Arsenal is moving towards qualification
Arsenal secured qualification to the round of 16 in a large degree after its impressive 3-0 victory over its guest, Dinamo Zagreb, thanks to goals from Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard.
The victory raised Arsenal’s balance to 16 points, in third place in the league stage. With the top eight teams qualifying directly to the round of 16, there will be nothing preventing coach Mikel Arteta’s team from qualifying directly except through an unusual series of results in the final round next week.
Arsenal will conclude the league stage by facing Girona in Spain, and a draw will be enough to avoid playing the two playoff round matches and advance to the round of 16, which will be held next February.
