As of Wednesday, January 22, 2025, the UEFA Champions League standings are looking bright for the Serie A teams. The top eight teams will move directly to the Round of 16, while those ranked 9th to 24th will battle it out in knockout round play-offs for the remaining spots. There’s just one more game to go!
Inter, Atalanta, and AC Milan have secured their places in either the Round of 16 or the knockout phase play-offs. Unfortunately, Bologna has been eliminated, but they can take pride in achieving their first-ever victory in the Champions League, which is definitely a reason to celebrate!
Currently, the only two teams confirmed in the Round of 16 are Liverpool and Barcelona.
Teams confirmed in the Round of 16 or knockout phase play-offs include Arsenal, Aston Villa, Atalanta, Atleti, Bayern, Brest, Celtic, Dortmund, Feyenoord, Inter, Juventus, Leverkusen, Lille, Milan, Monaco, and Real Madrid.
Teams confirmed as eliminated are Bologna, Crvena Zvezda, Girona, Leipzig, Salzburg, Slovan Bratislava, Sparta Praha, Sturm Graz, and Young Boys.
Sweet dreams to every @Bolognafc1909 supporter! Let’s celebrate this incredible milestone of their first-ever Champions League win, achieved against the powerful Borussia Dortmund! pic.twitter.com/K7TvPRFejU
🏆👉 Inter won the UEFA Champions League against Sparta Prague on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at the Stadion Letna in Prague, Czech Republic. Inter secured a narrow win, marking their third 1-0 result in this Champions League, despite a performance that wasn’t their best, possibly affected by the chilly weather in Prague. In the second half, Sommer made a fantastic save against Birmancevic early on. Dumfries had a goal ruled out for a very tight offside by Dimarco in the 61st minute. Sparta fought back with determination, but the Nerazzurri remained solid and looked more threatening in attack, even if they lacked the finishing touch to seal the game. Ultimately, Lautaro’s brilliant strike ensured the victory.
Inter grabbed the advantage in the 12th minute when their captain, Lautaro Martínez, found the back of the net with a stunning right-footed strike to the top right corner. The assist came from Alessandro Bastoni. It was an incredible shot from a tight angle, as Martínez connected with Bastoni’s cross, the ball bouncing off the ground, soaring over Vindahl, and hitting the crossbar before settling into the net.
👉🏆Sparta Prague 0 – 1 Inter ⚫️🔵 12th minute ⚽️ goal by Lautaro Martínez for @Inter_en with a right footed shot to the top right corner. The assist is by Alessandro Bastoni. https://t.co/d9p7aZu16i
Sparta Prague and Inter have faced each other four times in European competitions, with Inter claiming victory in three of those encounters (L1). This matchup marks the first time these teams will compete in the European Cup or UEFA Champions League. Inter has a strong record against Czech teams in the UEFA Champions League, remaining unbeaten with three wins and one draw since the 2019/20 season. In those four matches, they scored nine goals while conceding only one.
On the other hand, Sparta Prague has struggled recently, winning just one of their last 20 UEFA Champions League games (D5 L14) and suffering four consecutive losses, a streak they have never experienced before in this competition. Interestingly, all of Inter’s last four Champions League matches have ended with a score of 1-0 (W3 L1), with their latest defeat being a 1-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen. The only teams to have recorded five straight 1-0 results in a single season are Juventus in 2004/05 (W5) and Maccabi Haifa in 2009/10 (L5).
Player Stats
Nigerian player Victor Olatunji has made a significant impact in this season’s Champions League, contributing to three goals in his three starts—scoring two and providing one assist, with a total of six appearances. The last non-Czech player to have a hand in more goals in a single season for Sparta was Slovakia’s Ratislav Michalik back in 2001/02, who had five goals.
Hakan Çalhanoglu, the Inter midfielder, is on the brink of his 50th UEFA Champions League appearance in this match, as he currently has 49 under his belt. If he achieves this milestone, he will join an exclusive group as just the fourth Turkish player to do so, following in the footsteps of Ergün Penbe (52), Arif Erdem (50), and Bülent Korkmaz (50).
🏆👉 AC Milan won the UEFA Champions League match against Girona on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at the renowned San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy. . Milan grabs three vital points, inching closer to a direct qualification for the round of 16. The Rossoneri break the deadlock in the first half with a goal from Leao, and Maignan plays a crucial role with several important saves. In the second half, Conceicao’s squad focuses on preserving their lead, only facing a moment of danger when Gil’s impressive goal is disallowed for offside. Girona is eliminated, leaving Milan on the brink of qualification.
AC Milan opened the scoring in the 37th minute when Rafael Leão found the back of the net with a powerful left-footed shot into the top left corner. Ismaël Bennacer provided the assist. Bennacer made a crucial recovery, setting up Leão, who was unmarked on the left. The Portuguese forward then charged forward and fired a shot past Gazzaniga, hitting just under the crossbar!
🔴⚫️ AC Milan 1 – 0 Girona, 37th minute, ⚽️ goal by Rafael Leão for @acmilan with a left footed shot to the top left corner. The assist is by Ismaël Bennacer. https://t.co/SFqHGrowiR
3 – Before Rafael Leão, the last #ACMilan player to score in three successive #UCL matches was Zlatan Ibrahimovic: five in a row, between 2011 and 2012. Thread.#MilanGirona
Milan has encountered 11 different Spanish teams in European competitions to date, but this will mark their first clash with Girona. Conversely, Girona has yet to face any Italian side in these tournaments. Recently, Milan has triumphed in their last two matches against Spanish teams, with the most recent victory being a 3-1 win away at Real Madrid during matchday four of this tournament.
Interestingly, the Rossoneri have never achieved three straight wins against Spanish opponents in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League. Furthermore, Milan has secured victories in their last four UEFA Champions League matches. In the two previous seasons where the Rossoneri achieved more than five consecutive wins, they advanced to the final (six in a row in 1992-93 and five in 2004-05), although they fell short in both title matches.
Girona has faced a tough start in the UEFA Champions League, losing their first three away matches without finding the back of the net. Historically, the only team to suffer a similar fate by losing their first four games without scoring was Rapid Vienna from 1996 to 2005. This season, Girona has managed to win just one out of six matches in the tournament, with five losses.
The only Spanish side to have lost six games in a single season was Villarreal back in 2011-12. This upcoming match will mark Sérgio Conceição’s debut as Milan’s coach in the UEFA Champions League. The Portuguese manager has a solid record, winning eight of his last ten group stage matches (with two losses), but it’s worth noting that none of Milan’s last three coaches have won their first UCL match with the team, with Massimiliano Allegri being the last to achieve this in the 2010-11 season against Auxerre.
✅ Greetings, my friends! I present to you the latest front pages from the Italian newspapers La Gazzetta dello Sport, Corriere dello Sport, and Tutto Sport, dated Wednesday 22 January 2025.
Front Page La Gazzetta dello Sport, Wednesday 22 January 2025
👉Champions League just a draw Juve at minimum
Bianconeri popped up in Bruges but the playoffs are guaranteed
Motta: “We create little”
👉Graz overwhelmed Atalanta at its best
Gasp the goal machine: five
Now to Barcelona for the eighth finals
👉Borussia turns around, eliminated but happy Bologna smiles The first joy in Europe has arrived
👉Mission with Sparta Next Thula
Thuram-Lautaro is next
Inter close to direct passage if they win in Prague
👉At San Siro with Girona Milan on the attack
G8 in the crosshairs: 3 points needed. Gimenez says yes
Bianconeri popped up in Bruges, but the playoffs are guaranteed
Photo: twitter.com/ItalianSerieA
Front Page Corriere dello Sport, Wednesday 22 January 2025
👉Champions: playoffs sealed with the sixteenth draw of the season. Play Juve
In Bruges a 0-0 is enough
Now Di Maria for the top 8
The Bianconeri waste with Nico
Vlahovic enters only at the end
On the 29th there is the jinx with Benfica of the great ex to dream of a (difficult) place among the top eight
👉Atalanta Manita Bologna Makes History
👉 Manna seeks United’s yes Danilo fades: Pongracic idea
Napoli, Garnacho infinite
Negotiations to the bitter end for the Argentine: the offer of 50 million can increase with bonuses.
Intrigue with Lazio: Isaksen for Ngonge
Roma on Raspa
The Brazilian to Flamengo
👉Sparta-Inter (21) Inzaghi aims for the eighth finals “We want to win everything”
👉Milan-Girona (21) And Conceição calls the fans: “You are the soul.”
👉One year ago his death Riva’s 35 goals Azzurro unique
Photo: twitter.com/ItalianSerieA
Front Page Tutto Sport, Wednesday 22 January 2025
👉Juve, disappointing 0-0 in Bruges: the playoffs are safe, but… Thiago, why?
A step back after Milan: lack of conviction, few opportunities and a mistake by Nico against a rival within reach. The 16th draw of the season distances the possibility of finishing in the top 8. Motta scolds the attackers: “Only Mbangula is safe”
👉Toro, here are the numbers of the agreement Casadei with a shiver There is the relaunch of Lazio
👉5-0 to Sturm Graz Atalanta Festival Now mission G8
With Barca for the eighth finals. Bologna overturns Dortmund, it’s the first historic victory, but it’s out.
👉Tonight in Prague and with Girona Inter, inside the big Conceição discovers Milan tensions
👉A Year Without Riva “Gigi and that breaking left foot.”
Photo: twitter.com/ItalianSerieA
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Bologna 2 – 1 Borussia Dortmund
71′ Thijs Dallinga 15′ Serhou Guirassy (pen)
72′ Samuel Iling-Junior Buy UEFA Champions League Tickets
Bologna defeated Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League Matchday 7, League Phase on Tuesday 21 January 2025 at the Renato Dall’Ara Stadium in Bologna, Italy. Bologna got their first victory in the tournament as they take on Borussia Dortmund, who are currently struggling in the league.
A tough moment for Bologna! Borussia Dortmund struck first in the 15th minute. Serhou Guirassy netted a penalty with a precise right-footed shot to the bottom left corner. The penalty was given after Emil Holm fouled Waldemar Anton inside the area. Guirassy executed a delightful chip over goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski, who guessed correctly but was unable to make the save.
🔴🔵 Bologna 0 – 1 Borussia Dortmund, 15th minute, ⚽️ Serhou Guirassy converted a penalty for @BlackYellow with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner. The penalty was conceded by Emil Holm after a foul in the penalty area on Waldemar Anton. https://t.co/IzSyvYMS4Bpic.twitter.com/q4aVe8xLBu
Bologna leveled the score in the 71st minute when Thijs Dallinga found the back of the net with a right-footed shot aimed at the center. Jens Odgaard provided the assist, making a brilliant deep run and delivering a perfect cross for Dallinga, who was just a couple of steps away from the goal to secure the equalizer!
🔴🔵 Bologna 1 – 1 Borussia Dortmund, 71st minute, ⚽️ goal by Thijs Dallinga equalizes for @BolognaFC1909en with a right footed shot to the center. The assist is by Jens Odgaard. https://t.co/gghHg1ADNi
What a thrilling comeback! Bologna surged ahead in the 72nd minute when Samuel Iling-Junior found the net with a left-footed shot right down the middle. Dallinga made a quick attempt from close range towards Kobel, but it was the former Juventus player who sealed the deal with a crucial tap-in!
🔴🔵 Bologna 2 – 1 Borussia Dortmund, 72nd minute, ⚽️ goal by Samuel Iling-Junior for @BolognaFC1909en with a left footed shot to the center. https://t.co/WyZEPsG6oT
Bologna and Borussia Dortmund have yet to face each other in European competitions. The only time Bologna has played against a German team was during the 1970-71 European Cup Winners’ Cup, where they drew with Vorwärts Berlin (0-0 away and 1-1 at home in the first round).
Borussia Dortmund, on the other hand, is currently on a three-match unbeaten streak against Italian teams in the UEFA Champions League, with one win and two draws. Their most recent encounter with an Italian side was a 3-1 victory over Milan at San Siro in November 2023.
In the last 16 UEFA Champions League group stage matches, Dortmund has only suffered three losses (with eight wins and five draws), although one of those defeats occurred in their latest match against Barcelona (2-3). They haven’t lost two consecutive group stage matches since October/November 2021.
By Anna Italia
