Inter vs. Shakhtar, previous meetings and facts about the clash

The Champions League returns, with Inter set to face Shakhtar Donetsk in their Matchday 3 fixture of the 2026/27 league phase. It will be the Nerazzurri’s second European home game at San Siro, with Inter still without a point after the opening two rounds. The Ukrainian champions, meanwhile, remain unbeaten and have collected four points from their first two matches. The two sides meet again four years after their last encounter, when an Edin Džeko brace secured Inter’s place in the Round of 16. The teams have faced each other seven times in European competition, with all seven meetings taking place in the 21st century. It will also be a special occasion for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the only player to have represented both clubs, who will face Shakhtar for the first time as an Inter player.

Ahead of Wednesday’s match at San Siro, kicking off at 21:00 CEST on 21st October, here is a look at the previous meetings, interesting facts and connections between Inter and Shakhtar Donetsk.

SHAKHTAR’S CURRENT FORM

Eight wins and one defeat in nine Ukrainian Premier League matches, top of the table on 24 points, with 20 goals scored and four conceded. One draw and one win in their opening two Champions League fixtures. Arda Turan’s Shakhtar Donetsk have made an excellent start to the season. A young side combining a more experienced Ukrainian contingent with their usual sizeable group of Brazilian talents, they play an attacking, high-tempo brand of football built around transitions and wide play. In their most recent league match, a 2-1 win over Kolos Kovalivka, goals came from Vinícius Tobias, an attack-minded full-back who also scored against AEK Athens in the Champions League, and Valeriy Bondar. Arda Turan rotated several players with the Champions League fixture in mind. In the opening two rounds of the league phase, Gabriel Mendoza scored on both occasions, producing two very similar goals against PSV and AEK. Starting on the left, he cut inside before finishing with his right foot into the far corner. In the victory over the Greek side, Pedrinho also got on the scoresheet, converting the penalty that levelled the match after it had been won by Alisson Santana.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

Inter and Shakhtar Donetsk have met seven times in European competition, with the record favouring the Nerazzurri, who have recorded three wins and four draws, scoring ten goals and conceding just one. The two sides first met in the summer of 2005, in the third qualifying round of the Champions League. It was a tough test against the Ukrainian champions, with a place in the group stage at stake. Shakhtar Donetsk were managed by a familiar face to Inter fans: Mircea Lucescu, who had coached Inter during the 1998/99 season.

The Ukrainian side boasted plenty of talented players, from Srna and Tymoshchuk to Matuzalem, who would later enjoy a lengthy spell in Serie A, alongside Brazilian stars such as Elano, Brandão and Fernandinho. It was a team with a strong Brazilian influence and plenty of quality, but they ultimately had no answer to the outstanding attacking partnership in the Nerazzurri ranks. Adriano and Martins were unstoppable: they understood each other perfectly, constantly looked for one another and thrilled the crowd with their combinations. Their link-up play produced the opening goal: Martins let the ball run with a clever dummy, Adriano flicked it with his heel into the Nigerian’s path, and Martins raced into the box before beating the goalkeeper with a precise toe-poke. The second goal was just as spectacular: Zé Maria delivered a perfectly weighted cross, which the Emperor converted with an impeccable header. Inter won 2-0 after dominating the match, earning a deserved victory that could have been even more emphatic.

After the first-leg success, the return fixture took place behind closed doors at San Siro, following a four-match stadium ban imposed because of incidents during the previous season’s Euro Derby. With Massimo Moratti and Giacinto Facchetti watching from the stands, both wearing Nerazzurri colours, Mancini’s side took the lead early on through Álvaro Recoba’s left foot. His goal provided a valuable cushion against any potential comeback. Shakhtar managed to equalise through Elano but failed to create any further serious danger for Júlio César, who had made his official Inter debut in the first leg. Inter secured their place in the Champions League.

Fifteen years passed before Inter and Shakhtar met again. It was 17 August 2020, and summer had returned, but the circumstances were completely different. The world had come to a standstill for several months because of the pandemic, and football was no exception. The game resumed in July with empty stadiums, the voices of players, coaching staff and other matchday personnel filling the air. The venue was Düsseldorf, with a place in the Europa League final at stake. Antonio Conte’s Inter produced a commanding performance, overwhelming their opponents with intensity, quality and competitive spirit to secure a resounding 5-0 victory and book their place in the final. Lautaro opened the scoring in the first half before the Nerazzurri ran riot after the break: D’Ambrosio doubled their lead, the in-form Toro then completed his brace, and two goals from Lukaku in the final 15 minutes sealed the semi-final triumph.

From 2020 onwards, Inter and Shakhtar became regular opponents. The two sides met in the Champions League group stage in both the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, producing three remarkably eventful and frustrating encounters for the Nerazzurri, all of which ended 0-0. The fourth and final meeting took place at San Siro on 24 November, with Inter returning to winning ways and securing their place in the Champions League Round of 16. Inzaghi’s side finally broke what had begun to feel like a curse, reaching the knockout stage for the first time in ten years, since the 2011/12 campaign. It was an Edin Džeko brace that sent the Meazza into celebration, with a one-two punch between the 61st and 67th minutes: a precise right-footed finish followed by a superb header.

Previous meetings:

• Shakhtar Donetsk 0-2 Inter (69' Martins, 80' Adriano) – 2005/06 Champions League qualifying round

• Inter 1-1 Shakhtar Donetsk (12' Recoba, 25' Elano) – 2005/06 Champions League qualifying round

• Inter 5-0 Shakhtar Donetsk (19' Martínez, 65' D’Ambrosio, 75' Martínez, 80' Lukaku, 84' Lukaku) – 2019/20 Europa League semi-final

• Shakhtar Donetsk 0-0 Inter – 2020/21 Champions League group stage

• Inter 0-0 Shakhtar Donetsk – 2020/21 Champions League group stage

• Shakhtar Donetsk 0-0 Inter – 2021/22 Champions League group stage

• Inter 2-0 Shakhtar Donetsk (63' Džeko, 69' Džeko) – 2021/22 Champions League group stage

HENRIKH MKHITARYAN, THE LINK BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES

Inter-Shakhtar will be a special occasion for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the only player in the history of this fixture to have represented both clubs. The Armenian midfielder played for Shakhtar Donetsk from 2010 to 2013, during a spell that launched him into the upper echelons of European football. He made 106 appearances, scored 44 goals and won seven trophies: three Ukrainian league titles, three domestic cups and one Super Cup. Having joined Inter in the summer of 2022, he has played a key role in the Nerazzurri’s recent success, making 191 appearances, scoring 12 goals and winning six trophies: two Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia trophies and two Italian Super Cups. His connection with both clubs makes this match even more meaningful for the Armenian midfielder, who experienced two important chapters of his career in Ukraine and Italy.

INTER VS. SHAKHTAR, REFEREE AND DISCIPLINARY SITUATION

CAUTIONED Inter: - Shakhtar: -

SUSPENDED Inter: - Shakhtar: -

Referee: Harm Osmers (GER) Assistants: Christian Gittelmann - Christian Dietz (GER) IV Official:Florian Exner GER VAR: Robert Schröder (GER) AVAR: Benjamin Brand (GER)

INTER-SHAKHTAR DONETSK: WHERE TO WATCH ON TV

Inter-Shakhtar Donetsk, a match on matchday three of the league phase of the 2026/27 Champions League, will be played at San Siro on Wednesday 21 October at 21:00 CEST and will be broadcast exclusively on Prime Video. The match will therefore be available via the Amazon Prime Video app, which is available on smart TVs and all mobile devices, including smartphones, tablets, PCs and consoles.

UPDATES ON INTER TV

As always, Inter TV will provide updates and live coverage before the match, with the latest news from San Siro in the build-up to kick-off. Our Livematch pre-match show ahead of Inter-Shakhtar Donetsk will be broadcast live from 19:30 CEST and will also be available on YouTube via the Club’s official channel until 20:15 CEST. Post-match analysis and interviews will follow the final whistle.