In a closely contested encounter between the German and Italian champions, Inter endured their first Champions League loss of the season right before the winter break. They were defeated by a 90th - minute goal during their away match against Bayer Leverkusen.

It was the first goal the Nerazzurri had conceded throughout the league phase, finally ending a run of five straight clean sheets, but they remain among the front-runners to secure a cherished top-eight berth.

With two games to play, the three-time European champions and 2023 runners-up can confirm qualification by beating Sparta Prague and then Monaco before the end of January.

This season, Simone Inzaghi's side have lost just three of 29 matches across all competitions - twice being beaten by city rivals AC Milan either side of their last-gasp loss in Leverkusen.

Since letting a two-goal lead slip against Milan in the Supercoppa Italiana final, Inter have bounced back by adding seven more points to their Serie A total, leaving them tucked three points behind leaders Napoli with one game in hand.

On Sunday, captain Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring in a 3-1 home win over Empoli, before freewheeling wing-back Denzel Dumfries found the net for a fourth time in five matches; top scorer Marcus Thuram then emerged from the bench to wrap up victory.

Also into the Coppa Italia quarter-finals, the Scudetto holders are unbeaten in 15 league games, while a recent 1-0 win at Venezia was their sixth consecutive away victory in Serie A without conceding - that streak set a new club record.

In addition, Inter has remained unbeaten against Czech teams in the Champions League so far. As a result, they are expected to be the overwhelming favorites when they travel to Prague.

Sparta has encountered Inter four times in previous UEFA competitions. They managed to secure a victory once but suffered defeats in all the other encounters. However, the match on Wednesday will mark the first time these two clubs meet in Europe's premier tournament.

Last time out, the Czech champions suffered a 4-2 defeat to Feyenoord, having trailed by three on the half-hour mark at De Kuip, meaning they have now lost their last four league-phase fixtures while conceding 17 goals.

Despite making a bright start to their campaign - putting three past Red Bull Salzburg without reply, then drawing 1-1 in Stuttgart - Sparta now need to win their last two games and hope to sneak inside the top 24.

However, the statistics make for grim reading. Not only have they won just one of their last 20 Champions League matches outside of qualifying, but a proud 12-game unbeaten streak on home soil has been shattered this term: November's 2-1 reverse against Brest was followed by their heaviest defeat ever in the competition, a 6-0 drubbing by Atletico Madrid.

Having made a 15-game unbeaten start to the season, Sparta have since lost eight of their last 17 - keeping just one clean sheet in 10 - which leaves them facing an early exit from Europe and trailing far behind arch rivals Slavia Prague in the Czech Liga title race.

Since his squad's most recent competitive fixture - beating Jablonec just before the domestic winter break - coach Lars Friis has taken them to a training camp in Spain, where they won friendlies against Malmo and Bodo/Glimt.

The intensity now steps up a few notches, as after hosting the Serie A champions, Sparta then face an intimidating trip to Leverkusen on the final matchday - and Inter can testify to how tough a test that will be.

While Inter are still missing Yann Bisseck, Hakan Calhanoglu and Joaquin Correa through injury, they recently welcomed back defensive duo Benjamin Pavard and Francesco Acerbi.

Influential midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan also appeared as a substitute on Sunday, having been sidelined for two games, but it remains to be seen whether he will displace Piotr Zielinski in midweek.

While Simone Inzaghi has rotated his strikers in recent matches, Lautaro Martinez is likely to start again, having rediscovered his form in front of goal. Last season's Capcannoniere now has 111 Serie A strikes, drawing level with compatriot Mauro Icardi as the club's second-highest foreign scorer.

Simultaneously, the principal threats for Sparta Prague may originate from Albion Rrahmani, who netted a goal against Feyenoord, and the Nigerian striker Victor Olatunji. The latter has been directly responsible for three goals in his three starts in this season's Champions League.

Imanol Garcia and Angelo Preciado, who have been sidelined for an extended period, are not in the squad. Lukas Haraslin is still grappling with a hamstring issue. However, Elias Cobbaut may be set to return to the hosts' lineup.

To strengthen their options, Sparta has recently recruited Venezia midfielder Magnus Andersen and has brought back Jan Kuchta on loan from Midtjylland.

Sparta Prague possible starting lineup:

Jensen; Vitik, Panak, Zelezny; Wiesner, Laci, Kairinen, Rynes; Birmancevic, Olatunji, Rrahmani

Inter Milan possible starting lineup:

Sommer; Pavard, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Asllani, Zielinski, Dimarco; Martinez, Thuram