Champions League line-ups: Inter vs. Shakhtar Donetsk

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). You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Como vs. Manchester United on the Liveblog. BOLOGNA, ITALY – OCTOBER 17: Cristian Chivu, Manager of FC Internazionale Milano, looks on before the Serie A match between Bologna FC and FC Internazionale at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on October 17, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images) 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. MILAN, ITALY – OCTOBER 13: Nicolo Barella and Marcus Thuram of FC Internazionale Milano reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD2 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Club Brugge KV at Stadio San Siro on October 13, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) 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. MILAN, ITALY – OCTOBER 13: Carlos Forbs of Club Brugge KV is challenged by Hakan Calhanoglu of FC Internazionale Milano during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD2 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Club Brugge KV at Stadio San Siro on October 13, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images) 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. MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 08: Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Inter competes for the ball with Fikayo Tomori of AC Milan during the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on March 08, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) 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, Mendoza, Marlon Gomes; Kaua Elias Ref: Osmers (GER)