Pointless Inter need a response against an unbeaten Shakhtar
Cristian Chivu’s side have lost both of their opening games, 2-1 at Real Madrid and 4-3 at home to Club Brugge, and are without captain Lautaro Martínez. Domestically it is a different story: Inter won 3-1 at Bologna on Saturday. Arda Turan’s Shakhtar have four points, lead the Ukrainian Premier League and are unbeaten in six games in all competitions. Inter and Shakhtar Donetsk meet at San Siro on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, in the Champions League league phase, with kick-off at 21:00 CEST. Harm Osmers is the referee.
“Domani siamo obbligati a fare risultato, o diventa proibitivo entrare nelle prime otto.” – Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni (“Tomorrow we have to get a result, or it becomes almost impossible to reach the top eight.”)
Predicted lineups: Inter vs Shakhtar
Lautaro Martínez is the big absentee. The Inter captain, who scored twice against Brugge, has a muscle strain in his left thigh and is expected to be out for around six weeks, so Marcus Thuram and Francesco Pio Esposito are set to lead the line. John Stones, Benjamin Pavard and Curtis Jones are also unavailable, while Hakan Çalhanoğlu is expected back at the base of midfield after missing the Bologna game. Shakhtar are without Marlon Santos and Irakli Azarov, and Turan said Eguinaldo’s fitness will be decided by the medical staff.
Inter Team News & Preview
Inter showed character at Bologna. They fell behind to a Pobega goal after ten minutes, saw him hit the post later in the half, and then took control: Thuram equalised before the break, Carlos Augusto put them ahead and Bonny wrapped it up seven minutes from time. Inter remain at the top end of Serie A.
Europe has been the problem. Inter have created plenty, averaging 9.5 shots on target per game in the Champions League, but they have also allowed seven expected goals in two matches and conceded six. The 4-3 defeat to Brugge, when Nicolò Tresoldi scored a hat-trick at San Siro, summed up how open they have been. Chivu took the blame on himself on Tuesday and said the priority is simply to win one game.
What works for or against Inter
- 9.5 shots on target per game in the Champions League.
- Won 3-1 at Bologna on Saturday after falling behind.
- Six goals conceded in two Champions League games.
- Lautaro Martínez, Stones, Pavard and Curtis Jones are out.
Shakhtar Donetsk Team News & Preview
Shakhtar arrive in good shape. They have won five in a row, including a 3-1 win over AEK Athens in the Champions League, where they scored twice in the closing stages, and a 2-1 win over Kolos on Saturday, when Vinícius Tobias and Valeriy Bondar scored in the first half. They also drew 1-1 at PSV on matchday one. Shakhtar have scored in every one of those six games.
Turan made it clear that his side will not change their approach at San Siro. Inter’s own analysis points out that Shakhtar’s numbers drop in Europe, from 1.98 xG per game domestically to 0.94 in the Champions League, so they are more cautious against stronger opponents. Pedrinho, who scored a penalty against AEK, and Gleiker Mendoza, who has two goals in the competition, are their main threats.
What works for or against Shakhtar Donetsk
- Unbeaten in six games, with five straight wins.
- Scored in both Champions League games.
- Only 1.0 xG per game in the Champions League.
- Marlon Santos and Azarov are out, Eguinaldo is a doubt.
Inter vs Shakhtar Odds
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Inter vs. Shakhtar Stats Comparison
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Inter vs. Shakhtar Form Guide
Inter Form, Stats & Data
Inter’s Champions League games have been wide open at both ends. They generate 3.10 xG per game, the sign of a side that dominates the ball and gets into good positions, but they also allow 3.50 xG per game. With Lautaro out, their two goals against Brugge are gone too, which puts more pressure on Thuram and Pio Esposito to finish.
Shakhtar Form, Stats & Data
Shakhtar’s European numbers are tidy rather than spectacular: 1.00 xG for and 0.90 against per game. They have scored four goals from two expected goals, so their finishing has been sharp, and they have kept their opponents to a modest number of chances. Inter will be a much bigger test of that defence.
Inter vs Shakhtar: Prediction & Betting Tip
Inter should win this, but I do not trust them to keep a clean sheet. They have conceded in four of their last five games, including six goals in two Champions League matches, and they have allowed 3.50 xG per game in this competition. Shakhtar are a confident side that has scored in every one of their last six games, and Turan has promised they will not sit back. Under that pressure, I expect Inter to concede at least once even if they win.
The best argument the other way is Shakhtar’s lack of attacking output in Europe: only one expected goal per game, and a big drop from their domestic numbers. Inter also kept a clean sheet against Parma and will be desperate to tighten up. But Inter’s games in this competition have been far too open for me to back them to keep Shakhtar out completely.
So it is Both Teams to Score – Yes at 1.76 with Winz for me, and I expect a 3-1 scoreline.