Sparta Prague have won back-to-back friendlies to make up for the lack of competitive football due to the winter break, but they face a tough task to salvage their UEFA Champions League (UCL) campaign. Starting matchday seven outside the top 24 (W1, D1, L4), the ‘Iron Sparta’ need to beat Inter here and then Bayer Leverkusen on matchday six to have any chance of progressing to the knockout stages.

The recent signs are not promising, having lost 14 of their last 20 UCL games (W1, D5) including their last four, they are in danger of losing five in a row in the competition, which would be a record low they have never achieved before! There is no doubt that defensive frailties have played a major role in these disappointing performances, as Sparta Prague have conceded 17 goals in their last four UCL games, part of their worst defensive campaign since 1999/2000 in the competition (18 goals conceded).

Inter lost 1-0 on matchday six against Bayer Leverkusen, conceding and losing for the first time this season in the UCL (W4 D1). However, that defeat should not worry the ‘Nerazzurri’ too much, as they have won seven of their last nine competitive games since then (D1 L1) and remain in full control of a possible automatic qualification to the last 16, although the six goals conceded in the last four games of that sequence will cause some concern.

Inter can still be confident, however, having won their last three UCL games against opposition from the Czech Republic, scoring nine goals and conceding just one. Their recent away form has also been near-perfect, with the visitors winning seven of their last eight competitive away games while keeping one clean sheet (L1), both before and after the aforementioned loss to Bayer Leverkusen.

Players to watch: Victor Olatunji will be keen to return to competitive action, having scored in both of Sparta Prague's friendlies, as well as opening the scoring for his side with four of his last five competitive goals, three of which have come in the first 15 minutes of play. Lautaro Martínez, meanwhile, will be looking to take his time scoring, with seven of Inter's last nine goals coming in the second half.

Stat to watch: Five of Sparta Prague's last six UCL games have seen the opener arrive within the 15th minute of play.