Inter Milan Seeks First Champions League Points Against Shakhtar Donetsk

Inter Milan will host Shakhtar Donetsk at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan for the third matchday of the UEFA Champions League league phase. The fixture is scheduled for Wednesday, October 21, 2026, kicking off at 20:00 British Summer Time. The Italian side enters the European match aiming to secure their first points of the continental campaign after suffering opening losses.

The Nerazzurri experienced a difficult start to the tournament under manager Cristian Chivu, falling 2-1 to Real Madrid in their opening fixture and subsequently losing 4-3 at home against Club Brugge. These results leave the club near the bottom of the standings in the expanded league phase, where securing a top-eight finish is vital for automatic progression to the knockout stage. Inter President Beppe Marotta emphasized the need for the team to absorb the lessons from those setbacks.

“Clearly, we must learn the lessons of the first two games,” Marotta stated, pointing out that individual errors proved costly. “We struggled for much of the Club Brugge match, and this ought to show us how to approach a team that on paper is inferior, but can cause problems if underestimated.” Marotta also noted that quality alone is no longer enough in modern European football, pointing out that tactical organization and intensity are required against every opponent.

In contrast, Shakhtar Donetsk arrives in Milan with four points from their first two matches, having secured a 1-1 draw away against PSV and a 3-1 victory over AEK Athens. Managed by Arda Turan, the Ukrainian side currently sits higher in the standings and aims to extend their unbeaten run in the competition. During his pre-match press conference, Turan praised Inter's quality and acknowledged the challenge while confirming that his team would maintain their tactical approach.

Inter faces notable squad challenges ahead of the encounter. Captain Lautaro Martínez is sidelined for several weeks due to an injury. Additional absentees include Benjamin Pavard, Curtis Jones, and John Stones, leaving the team depleted in defensive areas. Marotta addressed the defensive vulnerabilities, acknowledging the impact of losing key personnel while stressing that the collective team must support the backline.

Historically, Inter holds a strong record against Shakhtar Donetsk in European competitions, remaining undefeated across seven prior meetings with three wins and four draws. Their most memorable encounters include a 5-0 victory in the 2020 UEFA Europa League semi-finals and a 2-0 win in the Champions League group stage in November 2021, featuring two goals by Edin Džeko. Despite this psychological advantage, current form presents a different challenge for both clubs.

The referee for the match will be Harm Osmers of the German Football Association, assisted by Christian Gittelmann and Christian Dietz. The fixture will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and discovery+ in the United Kingdom, and via tabii Spor 2 in Turkey. Both teams enter the San Siro pitch with high stakes as they pursue crucial points for their European campaign.