The hosts must end their European slump: Inter vs Shakhtar prediction
The third-round league-phase clash between Inter and Shakhtar in the Champions League will take place on October 21, 2026, at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium. The Milan side have lost both of their opening matches and remain without a point, while the Ukrainian club have collected four points. At the same time, both teams have been performing with great confidence in their domestic leagues, so the meeting in Milan promises to be far more challenging for the favorite than the teams' respective statuses might suggest.
Inter: it is time to take their domestic form to Europe
Christian Chivu's team have been experiencing serious problems specifically in the Champions League. After losing 2-1 to Real Madrid, the Milan side fell 4-3 to Club Brugge, despite Lautaro Martínez scoring twice. Moreover, Inter have lost seven of their last eight matches in Europe's premier club competition, a stark contrast to their Serie A results that only increases the pressure ahead of the home fixture.
The situation is much calmer in the domestic league: Inter are among the leaders and have dropped just two points after seven rounds. In their latest match, the Milan side defeated Bologna 3-1, once again managing to come from behind. The main injury concern is Lautaro Martínez, so Pio Esposito or Ange-Yoan Bonny should start alongside Marcus Thuram in attack.
Shakhtar: confident form and positive European momentum
Arda Turan's team remain unbeaten in the current league phase. First, Shakhtar drew 1-1 with PSV, then defeated AEK 3-1, turning the match around after conceding the opening goal. Pedrinho, Vinicius Tobias and Gleyker Mendoza found the net, while the team itself showed that it can punish opponents effectively for mistakes in transition.
Their overall form is impressive as well: Shakhtar are unbeaten in eight consecutive matches and sit top of the Ukrainian league. However, their record against Italian clubs is far weaker — the Ukrainians have failed to win any of their last ten meetings with Serie A sides and did not score in nine of them. In addition, Shakhtar have never beaten Inter in their previous seven encounters, scoring just once.
Match facts and head-to-head record
- Inter have lost both of their opening matches in this season's Champions League.
- Shakhtar are unbeaten in eight consecutive competitive matches.
- The Ukrainian club have never beaten Inter in their previous seven head-to-head meetings.
The hosts' class should tell: Inter vs Shakhtar prediction
Shakhtar come into the match in good shape and are more than capable of causing problems for the hosts, especially if they are given space to launch quick attacks. The Ukrainians have already proved that they know how to capitalize on opponents' mistakes and maintain a high tempo throughout the game, so their scoring cannot be ruled out entirely.
However, Inter are too strong at home and must respond to their poor start in Europe. Despite Lautaro's absence, the depth of their squad and their current Serie A form should be enough to control most of the match and finally end their losing streak in the Champions League.
