Champions League: Inter hosts Shakhtar with zero points on the board

Starting position and table standings

For the Italians, the priority is to fix the defensive weaknesses of their recent performances. In both of the matches they lost, the team conceded late goals that turned the result on its head. Coach Cristian Chivu, who took over Inter for the current season, faces the question of whether to make adjustments in personnel or in tactics.

Shakhtar, meanwhile, fields a settled side that had to process an entire season of disappointment in the domestic league. Things have gone considerably better in European competition so far, and coach Arda Turan can call on attackers who rarely got a look-in in the league. Captain Maryan Shved leads the line and has found the net several times already this season.

Around 70,000 spectators are expected at San Siro in Milan. The mood is likely to be tense given the record so far, as the fans expect Inter to finally deliver after two defeats. Coach Chivu had stressed beforehand that the team needed to keep its composure: "We know where we stand, and we know what we can do. The season is still long."

Personnel background at Inter

For Inter, a victory would be significant not only in sporting terms but also financially. Revenue from European competition makes up a growing share of the annual budget, and another exit at the group stage would complicate planning for the next transfer window. President Beppe Marotta had publicly called for patience recently, while at the same time demanding clear results.

Shakhtar Donetsk has played away from its home city since the Russian attack on Ukraine. The team plays its home matches in Warsaw and is particularly motivated this season to attract attention on the international stage. A point in Milan would further improve their starting position.

Previous meetings and outlook

Before kick-off, Chivu pointed to the importance of the collective. "There are no individual heroes who will decide this match," he said. The team would put in a united performance and try to find their way into the game through sheer effort. Shakhtar coach Turan, meanwhile, announced that his side would "play forward with courage and exploit the spaces Inter offers."

The fixture is the first meeting between the two clubs since the 2020/21 season. Back then, Shakhtar pulled off an upset win in the group stage, which was taken as a warning in Italy. Inter has since undergone a comprehensive squad overhaul, with many players from that team no longer in the squad.

Looking at the table ahead of the matchday, the picture is as follows: Inter sits on zero points in one of the lower places, while Shakhtar is mid-table on four. With a home win, Inter could at least close the gap to the places that matter for reaching the knockout round.

After the match, Shakhtar travels on to Amsterdam, where Ajax awaits on matchday three. Inter visits Borussia Dortmund afterward. Both teams therefore face a congested schedule that will further increase the workload in the weeks ahead.