Inter vs Shakhtar: introducing the opponents
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
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Shakhtar to face Italian champions Inter on the UEFA Champions League league phase MD3
October 21, Milan, San Siro, 22:00
The live broadcast will be available on Megogo
History and path to the UCL
Inter was founded on March 9, 1908 in Milan and has become one of the most decorated football clubs in Italy and Europe. The Nerazzurri have won the Italian league title 21 times, the Coppa Italia 10 times and the Italian Supercoppa Italiana 8 times. On the international stage, Inter have won the European Cup / UEFA Champions League three times (1964, 1965, 2010), the UEFA Cup three times (1991, 1994, 1998), as well as the FIFA Intercontinental Cup (1964, 1965) and the FIFA Club World Cup (2010). In the 2025/26 season, Inter secured a golden double, reclaiming the Italian league title and winning the Coppa Italia. Thanks to their league triumph, the team secured direct qualification for the Champions League league phase.
Start to the 2026/27 season
Inter made a confident start to the new season, winning six and drawing one of their first seven Italian league matches. The Milan side began with a home thrashing of Monza (4-1), followed by an away win over Cagliari (1-0) and a victory over Napoli (3-2). The Nerazzurri then played out a high-scoring thriller against Udinese (5-3), shared the points with Roma (2-2), thrashed Parma (3-0) and, in their last match before facing Shakhtar, came from behind to beat Bologna (3-1) away from home after conceding an early goal. After seven rounds of Serie A, Inter have collected 19 points and sit top of the table with a goal difference of 21-9.
Their Champions League campaign, however, proved considerably more difficult, as the Milan side lost away to Real Madrid (1-2) before suffering a home defeat to Club Brugge. (3-4). Inter will therefore be looking to pick up their first points in the competition when they face the Miners.
Squad and leaders
Inter are beginning their second consecutive season under head coach Cristian Chivu. The 45-year-old Romanian previously worked with the Milan club’s youth teams and also managed Parma. In the summer of 2025, he replaced Simone Inzaghi and led the Nerazzurri to the league title in his debut season. Inter fans also know Chivu well as a former player: he won the 2010 Champions League with the Milan side.
The team’s captain is 29-year-old Argentine striker Lautaro Martínez, who remains their main attacking threat. He has already scored six goals in all competitions in the 2026/27 season. His strike partner is Frenchman Marcus Thuram, who has found the net four times. Midfielders Nicolò Barella and Hakan Çalhanoğlu also play important roles in the team, while Alessandro Bastoni remains one of the key figures at the heart of the defence. Experienced midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is also worth highlighting, having previously enjoyed a successful spell at Shakhtar.
The live broadcast will be available on Megogo
History and path to the UCL
Inter was founded on March 9, 1908 in Milan and has become one of the most decorated football clubs in Italy and Europe. The Nerazzurri have won the Italian league title 21 times, the Coppa Italia 10 times and the Italian Supercoppa Italiana 8 times. On the international stage, Inter have won the European Cup / UEFA Champions League three times (1964, 1965, 2010), the UEFA Cup three times (1991, 1994, 1998), as well as the FIFA Intercontinental Cup (1964, 1965) and the FIFA Club World Cup (2010). In the 2025/26 season, Inter secured a golden double, reclaiming the Italian league title and winning the Coppa Italia. Thanks to their league triumph, the team secured direct qualification for the Champions League league phase.
Start to the 2026/27 season
Inter made a confident start to the new season, winning six and drawing one of their first seven Italian league matches. The Milan side began with a home thrashing of Monza (4-1), followed by an away win over Cagliari (1-0) and a victory over Napoli (3-2). The Nerazzurri then played out a high-scoring thriller against Udinese (5-3), shared the points with Roma (2-2), thrashed Parma (3-0) and, in their last match before facing Shakhtar, came from behind to beat Bologna (3-1) away from home after conceding an early goal. After seven rounds of Serie A, Inter have collected 19 points and sit top of the table with a goal difference of 21-9.
Their Champions League campaign, however, proved considerably more difficult, as the Milan side lost away to Real Madrid (1-2) before suffering a home defeat to Club Brugge. (3-4). Inter will therefore be looking to pick up their first points in the competition when they face the Miners.
Squad and leaders
Inter are beginning their second consecutive season under head coach Cristian Chivu. The 45-year-old Romanian previously worked with the Milan club’s youth teams and also managed Parma. In the summer of 2025, he replaced Simone Inzaghi and led the Nerazzurri to the league title in his debut season. Inter fans also know Chivu well as a former player: he won the 2010 Champions League with the Milan side.
The team’s captain is 29-year-old Argentine striker Lautaro Martínez, who remains their main attacking threat. He has already scored six goals in all competitions in the 2026/27 season. His strike partner is Frenchman Marcus Thuram, who has found the net four times. Midfielders Nicolò Barella and Hakan Çalhanoğlu also play important roles in the team, while Alessandro Bastoni remains one of the key figures at the heart of the defence. Experienced midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is also worth highlighting, having previously enjoyed a successful spell at Shakhtar.
Inter play their home matches at the legendary San Siro
Stadium
Inter play their home matches at the legendary San Siro. The stadium opened in 1926 and currently has a capacity of 75,817. It is located in the western part of Milan. San Siro has hosted matches at the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship, as well as European Cup and Champions League finals, including the decisive matches in 1965, 1970, 2001 and 2016.
Head-to-head record
Inter and Shakhtar have met seven times in European competitions, with the Italian side winning three matches and the other four ending in draws. Their first encounter came in the third qualifying round of the 2005/06 Champions League. Inter won 2-0 in Donetsk before the sides played out a 1-1 draw in the return leg. In August 2020, the teams met in the Europa League semi-finals. Inter, then managed by Antonio Conte, defeated the Miners 5-0 to book their place in the final. The clubs subsequently played out three consecutive 0-0 draws in the Champions League group stage during the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons. Inter finally ended that run on November 24, 2021, securing a 2-0 victory through Edin Džeko’s brace in the second half.
The Inter vs Shakhtar match will be officiated by a German refereeing team. Referee – Harm Osmers, assistant referees – Christian Gittelmann and Christian Dietz. VAR – Robert Schröder and Benjamin Brand.
Inter play their home matches at the legendary San Siro. The stadium opened in 1926 and currently has a capacity of 75,817. It is located in the western part of Milan. San Siro has hosted matches at the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship, as well as European Cup and Champions League finals, including the decisive matches in 1965, 1970, 2001 and 2016.
Head-to-head record
Inter and Shakhtar have met seven times in European competitions, with the Italian side winning three matches and the other four ending in draws. Their first encounter came in the third qualifying round of the 2005/06 Champions League. Inter won 2-0 in Donetsk before the sides played out a 1-1 draw in the return leg. In August 2020, the teams met in the Europa League semi-finals. Inter, then managed by Antonio Conte, defeated the Miners 5-0 to book their place in the final. The clubs subsequently played out three consecutive 0-0 draws in the Champions League group stage during the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons. Inter finally ended that run on November 24, 2021, securing a 2-0 victory through Edin Džeko’s brace in the second half.
The Inter vs Shakhtar match will be officiated by a German refereeing team. Referee – Harm Osmers, assistant referees – Christian Gittelmann and Christian Dietz. VAR – Robert Schröder and Benjamin Brand.