Champions League

Inter look to end Arsenal’s European streak under the San Siro lights

Arsenal arrive in Milan with a perfect European record, but Inter’s surge at home sets up a defining night in the Champions League race.

Paul Childs

Sabrina Uccello Calum Roche

Nápoles (Italia) Update: Jan 20th, 2026 04:34 EST

Arsenal are the only team still unbeaten in this season’s Champions League. Mikel Arteta’s side have been the outright force of the 2025–26 league phase, winning all six of their previous games, but that flawless run is under threat on their visit to the Giuseppe Meazza. Waiting for them is Inter, now coached by Cristian Chivu, last season’s Champions League runners-up under Simone Inzaghi, and a serious test for a Gunners team flying high.

The standings before MD7 🔢#UCL pic.twitter.com/kA51CiLEf6
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 19, 2026

The nerazzurri crowd, buoyed by Inter’s strong Serie A form, will be asked to act as a 12th man as they try to end Arsenal’s European invincibility. Arteta’s side have not only won all six of their games but have conceded just once in the competition – a goal from Karl against Bayern Munich. And while Inter are thriving domestically, Arsenal are in much the same position in the Premier League, where they top the table and their closest challengers are struggling to keep pace.

Given those precedents, Inter will need something close to a feat, particularly after losing their last two Champions League games late on – 2–1 against Atlético Madrid and 1–0 to Liverpool. Picking up at least a point is vital for the Italians if they are to stay in contention for a top-eight finish. Confidence at home is fuelled by their league form, with Chivu’s team recording eight wins and a draw in their last nine Serie A outings. Aiming to avoid the playoff round, Inter will again rely on the Thu-La partnership up front, dismissing any talk of rotation in recent weeks. The only real doubt is in midfield, where Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Petar Sučić are competing for a place alongside Piotr Zieliński and Nicolò Barella, with the Armenian currently the favourite. Denzel Dumfries and Hakan Çalhanoğlu remain sidelined with injuries.

Arteta arrives in Milan riding the same wave. Arsenal hold a seven-point lead over their Premier League rivals and have been flawless in Europe, but they will be without Piero Hincapié, Riccardo Calafiori and Dowman. The relentless schedule between the Carabao Cup and the league has left little room for recovery, so some changes to the starting XI cannot be ruled out. As things stand, Viktor Gyökeres is expected to lead the line alongside Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard, with Martín Zubimendi also set to start.

Match details and probable lineups

Inter: Sommer; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Luis Henrique, Barella, Zieliński, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Lautaro.Coach: Chivu.

Arsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Ødegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyökeres, Trossard.Coach: Arteta.

Referee: João Pinheiro (Portugal)
Stadium: Giuseppe Meazza (Milan)
Kickoff: 3 p.m. ET

Champions League action 😎 #UCL pic.twitter.com/BzucrfhMKE
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 20, 2026

Conte, under suspicion once again

Antonio Conte rarely enjoys success in European competition and is back under scrutiny. Napoli are flirting with the elimination spots and must win tonight to remain in the playoff zone, with a daunting final-round clash against Chelsea still to come.

Copenhagen: Kotarski; Suzuki, Hatzidiakos, Pereira, Meling; Larsson, Madsen, Delaney, López; Elyounoussi, Cornelius.

Napoli: Milinković-Savić; Beukema, Buongiorno, Juan Jesus; Di Lorenzo, Lobotka, Elmas, Spinazzola; McTominay, Højlund, Lang.

Referee: D. Rumsas (Lithuania)
Stadium: Parken Stadium
Kickoff: 3 p.m. ET

Inter look to end Arsenal’s European streak under the San Siro lights — Napoli's training session yesterday.CIRO FUSCO

Club Brugge cling to hope

Club Brugge are not out yet, but to reach the final round with a chance they must win today. The setting could hardly be better: Kairat are not playing in Almaty but in Astana, and the Kazakh side have not played an official match since December 9 and are already mathematically eliminated.

Kairat Almaty: Anarbekov; Mrynskiy, Martynovich, Sorokin, Mata; Tapalov, Glazer; Jorginho, Gromyko, Ricardinho; Edmilson.

Club Brugge: Van den Heuvel; Sabbe, Ordonez, Mechele, Seys; Vanaken, Stankovic, Tzolis, Vetlesen, Tresoldi, Diakhon.