Inter push Barcelona to brink of Champions League exit

Barcelona came within a few minutes of being knocked out of the Champions League on Wednesday. Inter Milan came into the Nou Camp and put three into the net of a shaky Barcelona defense.

Late into the game, Inter’s Robin Gosens put the visitors up 3-2. However, Superstar striker Robert Lewandowski scored in added time to level the scoreline at. In doing so, he provided a lifeline, however narrow it may be, to Barcelona in the Champions League this season. Also, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen made a number of key and spectacular saves late on.

Despite the drama, the Catalans still face a massive uphill climb to qualify for the knockout round. In Group C, Barcelona sits in third with four points. Inter, which defeated Barcelona a week ago at San Siro, is three points clear.

Barcelona no longer in control in Champions League

Therefore, Inter Milan can clinch a spot in the knockout phase with a win over either Viktoria Plzeň or Bayern Munich. Inter now owns the key tiebreaker in the group stage, head-to-head record. Barcelona needs Inter to drop points in both games, home to Plzeň and away to Bayern in matchday six, to have a chance.

Barcelona learns its fate in the Champions League in two weeks time. Anything less than a win against Bayern and a draw or loss from Inter dooms the club to the Europa League.

Around the grounds in matchday four

Speaking of Bayern Munich, the Germans qualified for the next stage of the UCL with a 4-2 road victory against Viktoria Plzeň. Despite any domestic struggles, Bayern cruised along in the Champions League. The Bavarians have four wins from four games, scoring 13 and conceding two.

Not to be outdone, Napoli is perhaps the hottest team in Europe on current form. The Italians thumped a visiting Ajax side, 4-2. Just like Bayern, Napoli punched its ticket to the knockout stage with two games still left to play. Those four goals came from four different scorers. Hirving Lozano, Giacomo Raspadori, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen finished off the reigning Dutch champions.

The Italian club has now scored an astounding 17 group stage goals in just four matches so far this season. Overall, Napoli won 11 of its 13 games during the current campaign. The only two matches that they have failed to win were both Serie A draws.

Club Brugge also qualified for the knockout round as well. However, unlike the two aforementioned big clubs, the Belgian champions from a year ago will play a knockout game in the competition for the first time in team history.

PHOTO: IMAGO / Pressinphoto