UEFA Champions League Preview: Inter vs Shakhtar Donetsk – Team News, Lineups & Preview – USFTB

October 21, 2026 3 Min Read

Stadio Giuseppe Meazza forms the backdrop for Inter Milan’s first UEFA Champions League clash against Shakhtar Donetsk since November 2021. The Ukrainian giants’ arrival looks like a prime opportunity for the Nerazzurri to bounce back from a stunning 4-3 home defeat to Club Brugge last time out.

Cristian Chivu’s side kicked off this season’s league phase with a whimper. After a 2-1 loss at Real Madrid on matchday one, Inter unexpectedly lost to Club Brugge on home turf, suffering back-to-back defeats at the start of a new Champions League campaign for the first time since 2006/07.

However, the reigning Serie A champions switfly got back on track in the domestic championship. Despite conceding the opening goal in Saturday’s away encounter against Bologna, they pulled off another comeback to secure a 3-1 win at Renato Dall’Ara and solidify their place at the top of the table.

Like their hosts, Shakhtar come into this meeting on the back of another domestic triumph as they beat Kolos Kovalivka 2-1 at home to maintain a two-point lead at the Ukrainian Premier League’s summit. Yet, unlike Inter, Arda Turan’s men have managed to translate their domestic supremacy to the continental scene.

Shakhtar held PSV Eindhoven to a commendable 1-1 draw on matchday one before putting AEK Athens to the sword last week. Goals on either side of halftime propelled the 16-time Ukrainian champions to a convincing 3-1 victory, marking their best two-game Champions League start since 2014/15.

Match Preview

Inter

Not only have Inter started a new Champions League season with consecutive losses for the first time in two decades, but they’re also experiencing their longest losing streak in this competition. Chivu’s men have lost four Champions League games in a row and have been beaten in seven of their last eight outings in Europe’s most prestigious club tournament (W1).

Perhaps another match at Meazza could inspire a much-needed resurgence, but the Nerazzurri would be well-advised not to take anything for granted after losing their last four Champions League fixtures here. If it’s any consolation, those four losses remain their only home defeats in any competition since the start of December 2025 (W16, D3).

Determined to put a negative club record in Europe to bed, Inter can draw confidence from their imperious run against Shakhtar. A 2-0 home win in their last meeting five years ago upheld their unbeaten record against this opposition (W3, D4) while also marking their sixth clean sheet in seven head-to-heads.

Shakhtar Donetsk

Without a goal in their last five clashes against Inter, Shkahtar must punch above their weight if they’re to avoid defeat in their opening three matches of a Champions League season for the first time since 2014/15, when they reached the knockout stages. However, history sides with Inter here.

Ukrainian clubs have drawn a blank in their last nine matches against Italian teams (D4, L5) since Shakhtar’s win over Atalanta in 2019, perhaps best illustrating the size of the task awaiting Turan’s side on Wednesday. By contrast, the visitors head into proceedings amid a purple patch, having won ten of their 12 competitive fixtures this season (D1, L1), including the last seven on the trot.

Shakhtar’s red-hot form offers the traveling fans some hope, as they’ve grown tired of seeing their side flop on the road. Indeed, they’ve gone winless in their last seven away games in the Champions League proper (D2, L5) despite finding the back of the net on five occasions in that dreadful sequence.

Team News

In addition to long-term absentee John Stones, Inter will also be without Benjamin Pavard and Curtis Jones, who are recovering from thigh injuries. Furthermore, Lautaro Martinez will be on the sidelines until the next international break, meaning either Ange-Yoan Bonny or Francesco Pio Esposito will partner up with free-firing Marcus Thuram in attack.

Meanwhile, Shakhtar will arrive in Italy without Eguinaldo and Alaa Ghram, with Marlon Santos and Diego Arroyo unlikely to feature due to lingering fitness problems. Nevertheless, star forwards Pedrinho and Kaua Elias are expected to start despite not being allowed to rest at the weekend.

Inter vs Shakhtar Donetsk Potential Starting Lineups

Inter (3-5-2): J. Martinez; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Diouf, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Esposito.

Shakhtar Donetsk (4-2-3-1): Riznyk; Tobias, Bondar, Matviyenko, P. Henrique; Ocheretko, Gomes; Santana, Pedrinho, Newerton; Elias.

Inter vs Shakhtar Donetsk Prediction

There is no margin for error here if Inter are to return in contention for a place in the knockout stages. Despite Shakhtar’s scintillating form and a promising Champions League start, this is Inter’s match to lose, and we can’t see the Nerazzurri dropping more points on home turf.