Champions League line-ups: Inter vs. Shakhtar Donetsk

Inter simply must win against impressive Shakhtar Donetsk, so Ange-Yoan Bonny and Marcus Thuram stand in for injured Lautaro Martinez, with Djed Spence getting his first start.

It kicks off at San Siro at 20.00 UK time (21.00 CEST).

The Nerazzurri have had a simply disastrous Champions League record since Cristian Chivu took over, as although they won the Scudetto and Coppa Italia domestic double, they’ve lost seven of the last eight European fixtures.

The performances in both the 2-1 defeat at Real Madrid and 4-3 loss at home to Club Brugge were marred by costly individual errors.

Lautaro Martinez has been ruled out for a month with a hamstring strain, joining Benjamin Pavard, Curtis Jones and John Stones on the absentee list.

There is also the pressure to rotate the squad ahead of the Derby della Madonnina with Milan this weekend.

Carlos Augusto, and Petar Sucic therefore start, with Bonny preferred to Pio Esposito as partner for Thuram upfront.

This shifts Alessandro Bastoni into the centre of a three-man defence.

The big news is the first start in the Inter jersey for Spence, who arrived from Tottenham Hotspur carrying an injury from the World Cup with England.

Shakhtar Donetsk are absolutely not to be underestimated, as they remain unbeaten in the Champions League so far this season after a 1-1 draw away to PSV Eindhoven and 3-1 victory over AEK Athens.

The Ukrainians are packed with Brazilian talent, though Eguinaldo, Marlon Santos and Irakli Azarovi are out inured.

Gleiker Mendoza is their Champions League top scorer this season, scoring in both games.

Coach Arda Turan was teammates with Hakan Calhanoglu in the Turkiye national team, while Mkhitaryan played for Shakhtar Donetsk from 2010 to 2013.

Inter vs. Shakhtar Donetsk line-ups

Inter: J Martinez; Akanji, Bastoni, Carlos Augusto; Spence, Barella, Calhanoglu, Sucic, Dimarco; Thuram, Bonny

Shakhtar Donetsk: Riznyk; Vinicius Tobias, Bondar, Matviyenko, Pedro Henrique; Ocheretko; Alisson Santana, Pedrinho, Marlon Gomes, Mendoza; Kaua Elias

Ref: Osmers (GER)

21-10-2026 20:00

MatchDay 3

Season Analytics

Inter

Positions

Shakhtar Donetsk

SEASON TOTAL

INT HOME

0 0 1

0 0 2

Last matches

31

14

Position

SEASON TOTAL

SHA AWAY

0 1 0

1 1 0

Last matches