Champions League Preview: Arsenal’s San Siro Test Against Inter Milan Headlines Sporting Lisbon’s Showdown With PSG

After a six-week break, the Champions League roars back to life with a decisive round of fixtures that will shape the race for qualification, playoff survival, and top-eight finishes.

‎From Lisbon to London and Milan to Prague, Europe’s biggest clubs face season-defining battles in what promises to be one of the most dramatic weeks of the league phase.

Sporting Lisbon vs Paris Saint-Germain

‎The Estadio José Alvalade hosts one of Tuesday night’s standout fixtures as Sporting Lisbon welcome defending champions Paris Saint-Germain for their first-ever meeting in UEFA competition.

‎Sporting enters the clash 14th in the standings, two points shy of the automatic qualification spots and three behind PSG, who currently sit third.

‎Sporting arrive wounded but motivated following a 3-1 defeat at Bayern Munich, a match in which they held the lead before a devastating 12-minute collapse.

‎At home, however, the Lions have been faultless, winning all three Champions League fixtures in Lisbon and riding a nine-match winning streak at José Alvalade.

‎Their form against French opposition offers further encouragement, with seven wins in their last nine home ties against Ligue 1 clubs.

‎Injuries remain a major concern. Pedro Gonçalves, Nuno Santos, Ousmane Diomande, Geovany Quenda, and Fotis Ioannidis are all sidelined, while captain Morten Hjulmand is suspended.

‎Daniel Bragança’s recent return, capped with a goal, and Geny Catamo’s brace after AFCON duty, provide a timely boost.

‎PSG, meanwhile, remain two points behind Ligue 1 leaders Lens despite dismantling Lille 3-0 at the weekend.

‎Their Coupe de France exit to Paris FC still stings, but Luis Enrique’s side has responded well, lifting both the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and French Super Cup via shootouts. Their only blemish in Europe recently was a goalless draw against Athletic Bilbao, a match they dominated.

‎The Parisians travel without Kang-In Lee, Matvey Safonov, Joao Neves, and Quentin Ndjantou, while Lucas Hernandez remains suspended.

‎Achraf Hakimi may return late from AFCON, making his involvement uncertain. Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé enters the match in electric form after a weekend brace and nearly scoring a Puskás contender.

‎It promises to be a fiercely contested encounter, but the visitors’ superior depth may give them the edge.

‎Prediction: Sporting Lisbon 1–2 Paris Saint-Germain

‎Tottenham Hotspur vs Borussia Dortmund

‎Borussia Dortmund’s 2026 restart has been mixed despite two wins and a draw. Their latest Bundesliga match saw them nearly squander a two-goal lead before a late penalty rescued a 3-2 win over St. Pauli.

‎That performance, coupled with a frustrating 2-2 draw against heavy underdogs Bodø/Glimt in Europe, leaves BVB in a precarious position.

‎They sit outside the top eight with 11 points and need a strong finish to avoid slipping into the playoff zone.

‎Their trip to London comes at an opportune time. Tottenham have collapsed in recent months, winning just three of their last 15 matches under Thomas Frank.

‎With both sides level on 11 points, the margins are razor-thin, and neither will want to take unnecessary risks in what could be one of the tightest fixtures of the week.

‎Dortmund arrives with a nearly full-strength squad, though Marcel Sabitzer is absent due to a calf problem. Aaron Anselmino returns after a long hamstring layoff.

‎Tottenham’s injury crisis is far more severe. James Maddison remains out with an ACL injury, while Mohammed Kudus, Richarlison, and Rodrigo Bentancur are all nursing hamstring issues, leaving the squad stretched at a critical juncture.

‎Expect a tense, slow-burning match with both sides aware of what a defeat could mean for their season.

‎Inter Milan vs Arsenal 

‎San Siro sets the stage for a colossal showdown as Inter Milan hosts Premier League leaders Arsenal. Both sides are among Europe’s most in-form teams and enter this fixture with something to prove.

‎Inter have been in outstanding domestic form, boasting one of Serie A’s most dangerous attacks under Cristian Chivu. With 44 league goals, ten more than Napoli, the Nerazzurri have rediscovered their scoring touch, even if their Champions League output has been comparatively modest.

‎Arsenal, on the other hand, is a defensive powerhouse. Across 28 matches in all competitions, they have conceded just 15 goals.

‎Remarkably, in six Champions League games, they’ve allowed only one stat befitting Europe’s most impenetrable unit.

‎This clash represents the classic immovable object versus unstoppable force. Inter’s wealth of attacking options, including Lautaro Martínez, Marcus Thuram, Ange-Yoan Bonny, and Francesco Pio Esposito, gives Chivu tactical flexibility.

‎Arsenal, meanwhile, relies on stability, structure, and elite organisation.

‎There is added narrative weight: Inter are one of only two teams to beat Arsenal in this European campaign, while the Gunners want to conquer one of the few grounds where they stumbled last season.

‎Inter need to avoid a third straight Champions League defeat to stay on course for a top-eight berth.

‎For Arsenal, a win would signal their strongest European title statement of the century.

‎Bodø/Glimt vs Manchester City

‎Manchester City travel to the Arctic Circle for one of the week’s most intriguing fixtures. Fortunately for Pep Guardiola’s side, temperatures in Bodø are expected to be only slightly below freezing far from the deep-winter conditions feared during the Monaco draw.

‎City sits comfortably in fourth with 13 points, a stark contrast to last season’s final-day scramble to qualify.

‎With Erling Haaland returning to his home region, City will expect to secure their top-eight spot with minimal drama.

‎Copenhagen vs Napoli

‎Napoli travel to Copenhagen in one of the most consequential matches of the week. The Italians sit just above the elimination line on seven points, while Copenhagen are directly below them, separated only by goal difference.

‎This match could determine which side remains alive in the competition heading into the final week.

‎Napoli, on paper, boasts more quality and should have enough firepower, especially with Rasmus Højlund returning to the city where his career began. Four years after leaving Copenhagen for under €2 million, he now returns as one of Europe’s most expensive young strikers.

‎Both sides will view this as a playoff before the playoffs.

‎Atalanta vs Athletic Bilbao

‎Atalanta return home after a frustrating 1-1 draw with Pisa, eager to strengthen their top-eight ambitions.

‎Their Champions League campaign has been impressive since their opening-day 4-0 loss to PSG, collecting 13 points from their next five matches to sit fifth in the standings.

‎All eight of Atalanta’s league-phase goals have arrived after halftime, a statistic that underscores their strong finishes but also highlights their slow starts.

‎Their opponents, Athletic Bilbao, have endured a difficult 2026, conceding heavily in recent matches and failing to score in their last three Champions League games.

‎Athletic sits 28th on five points, with no hope of reaching the top eight but still able to salvage a playoff berth. Their away form in Europe this season has been dismal, with six goals conceded and just one scored across three matches.

‎Atalanta’s squad concerns include injuries to Berat Djimsiti and Raoul Bellanova. Ademola Lookman could return following AFCON duty.

‎Charles De Ketelaere, who has scored in back-to-back Champions League games, will be key once again.

‎The visitors must hope that Gorka Guruzeta and Nico Williams rediscover their European scoring touch quickly, though recent form suggests the task may be too steep.

‎Slavia Prague vs Barcelona

‎Slavia Prague faces one of its stiffest challenges of the season as Barcelona arrives in the Czech capital.

‎Slavia, without a competitive match in over a month, sits 33rd with just three points and no victories. Their lack of goals, only two in six matches, has left them on the brink of elimination.

‎Barcelona, by contrast, sit 15th and within reach of the top eight, though defensive vulnerabilities have plagued their campaign.

‎A 2-1 league defeat to Real Sociedad last weekend has further tightened the pressure on Hansi Flick’s side.

‎The Catalans remain without Lamine Yamal due to suspension and will miss Gavi and Christensen through injury.

‎Raphinha is doubtful, potentially opening the door for Marcus Rashford to feature on the left. Ferran Torres is expected to lead the line over Robert Lewandowski.

‎Slavia’s key creator, Lukas Provod, will need a standout performance, while Mojmir Chytil offers their best goal threat.

‎Despite Slavia’s resilience at home in past European campaigns, Barcelona’s quality should prove decisive.

‎Prediction: Slavia Prague 0–2 Barcelona

‎Kairat Almaty vs Club Brugge

‎Kairat sit bottom of the standings with just one point and must win to avoid finishing last. Club Brugge, meanwhile, sit 30th and remain in danger of missing out on the playoff zone.

‎A victory for the Belgian side would move them to seven points and give them hope heading into the final matchday

‎Both teams enter with everything to play for as the pressure mounts on their European future.

‎Villarreal vs Ajax

‎Villarreal host Ajax in a clash between 35th and 34th place two giants trapped in a nightmare campaign. Ajax have already accepted their fate, but with the newly appointed technical director Jordi Cruijff observing, every performance now becomes an audition for the club’s future.

‎Villarreal seeks pride; Ajax seeks direction. Both seek a rare win.