Inter vs Shakhtar Donetsk Prediction, H2H Stats & Statistical Bets 21 October 2026
📢 Can Inter finally claim their first win of this season's Champions League campaign? In the third round of the league phase, the reigning Italian champions host Shakhtar Donetsk at the Giuseppe Meazza. On paper, the favourite looks obvious, but the table currently tells a rather unexpected story. After two rounds, Inter sit outside the top 24, while the Ukrainian champions find themselves in a surprisingly high 11th place. Of course, it is too early to draw firm conclusions - there is still plenty of time to turn things around. That said, the situation is gradually becoming a concern for the Milan side, and dropping more points could seriously dent the players' confidence.
🔁 This prediction is updated on matchday. Keep an eye on the Latest News section.
Inter maintain their advantage in the head-to-head battle with Shakhtar
📊 The two sides have met just five times in recent years, and Shakhtar have never beaten Inter: Inter have won two of those meetings, with the other three ending in draws. The last time they faced each other was in 2021, when they were drawn into the same Champions League group. The match in Kyiv finished goalless (0:0), while Inter won 2:0 in Milan.
Head-to-head statistics Inter - Shakhtar Donetsk
Inter show a stark contrast between their performances in Serie A and on the European stage
The reigning Italian champions continue to set the standard in Serie A. Inter's performances are far from flawless - they make defensive errors regularly, concede too many goals at times and have had to come from behind - but none of that has really affected their results. After seven rounds, the Nerazzurri have an impressive 19 points from a possible 21 and are joint top of the table with Lazio.
Last weekend Inter once again showed they can get the result they need even when things start badly. They travelled to Bologna and found themselves behind as early as the tenth minute. It looked as though the reigning champions might be in for another difficult evening, but the Nerazzurri took control fairly quickly and ended up winning comfortably, 3-1.
Their Champions League form, however, has produced entirely the opposite reaction among supporters. After two matchdays Inter have no points and sit 29th in the overall standings. The away defeat to Real Madrid (1-2) can be explained by the quality of the opposition, but there is no real excuse for losing at home to Bruges (3-4). Yes, Inter played better on the night, but Bruges are significantly below Inter's level and are the kind of opponent you should be beating with ease.
Match Results: Inter Milano
Shakhtar head into their clash with Inter unbeaten in the Champions League
The reigning Ukrainian champions have no intention of relinquishing their title. Shakhtar have made an excellent start to the new season and are giving their rivals very little reason to hope for a slip-up. After nine rounds they have 24 points and sit comfortably at the top of the table. Last weekend they claimed another victory, beating Kolos 2:1 - though the narrow scoreline does not reflect what actually happened on the pitch. Shakhtar were clearly superior in terms of football quality, controlled the match throughout and held a comfortable lead for most of the game. Kolos only managed to pull one back late on.
Shakhtar have made an equally confident start in the Champions League. Unlike Inter, they have already got points on the board and sit in a strong 11th place in the overall standings after two rounds. The schedule has not been straightforward either: in their opening match the Ukrainian club held PSV to a 1:1 draw, then in the second round achieved an even more valuable result by beating Greek side AEK 3:1 on a neutral ground. The start of that match was far from ideal, however - Shakhtar conceded first and found themselves chasing the game, but managed to turn things around.
Match Results: Shakhtar Donetsk
Latest news
Inter Milano
❌ Inter have four confirmed absentees ahead of the match. Benjamin Pavard, John Stones and Curtis Jones remain sidelined with injuries, while Lautaro Martínez is also unavailable. The Argentine striker's absence is a particularly significant blow to Inter's attack.
Shakhtar Donetsk
❌ Shakhtar have three confirmed absentees. Eguinaldo, Kiril Fesiun and Alaa Ghram remain sidelined through injury, while Irakli Azarovi is doubtful due to a knee problem.
Predicted Lineups
📋 Predicted starting XI for Inter: J. Martínez - Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni - Diouf, Çalhanoğlu, Barella, Zieliński, Dimarco - Thuram, F. Esposito.
📋 Predicted starting XI for Shakhtar: Riznyk - Tobias, Bondar, Matviyenko, Pedro Henrique - Ocheretko, Gomes - Santana, Pedrinho, Mendoza - Elias.
⚽️ Goals Prediction
Inter's attacking line is working almost flawlessly, which is more than can be said for their defence: the Nerazzurri regularly find the net but also concede far too often. In 6 of their last 7 matches, both sides have scored. Given that Shakhtar are in excellent form, we're backing Both Teams to Score - Yes at 1.76*.
🚩 Corners Prediction
Inter are among the top teams in Serie A for corners won, averaging 5.7 per match. In this game, the Milanese side will likely look to dominate, hold possession for long spells and keep up constant pressure on Shakhtar's defence. That kind of approach tends to generate plenty of set pieces, so there's a case for backing Inter Team Total Corners - Over 5.5 at 1.50*.
🟨 Yellow Cards Prediction
The gap in quality between Inter and Shakhtar is considerable, so the visitors will spend a lot of time without the ball, trying to hold back the Milanese attack. The Ukrainians will look to close down space and prevent Inter's technical players from creating dangerous chances. Avoiding fouls will be difficult, especially if Inter come out pressing hard from the first minute. We therefore expect the Ukrainian side to resort to tactical fouls more frequently and pick up more bookings. Our bet is Shakhtar to receive more yellow cards.
🚀 Player Stat Bet
Following Lautaro Martínez's injury, the role of Inter's main attacking threat has predictably fallen to Marcus Thuram. The French striker has already shown he is ready to take on that extra responsibility: in the previous Serie A round against Bologna he was very impressive and got on the scoresheet, contributing to the Nerazzurri's victory. He will surely be looking to continue his scoring run and help Inter claim their first win in the Champions League. Our bet is Marcus Thuram to Score at 1.65*.
😱 Risky Bet
Inter's matches this season have frequently turned into real goal fests. Neutral fans have had little reason to complain watching the Nerazzurri play. There have already been games with seven and eight goals, and the team's defence continues to look shaky. So why not take a risk? Those who enjoy a gamble can back Total Goals - Over 5 at 3.95*.
🎯 Safe Bet
Inter rarely taste defeat: they have gone unbeaten in 19 of their last 21 matches. A third consecutive Champions League defeat would be a real shock, and at home against a side clearly below their level, the Italian champions are unlikely to let that happen. For those who prefer a safer option, we suggest Inter Not to Lose at 1.08*.
👀 If the Match Goes Off Script
Although almost everyone expects Inter to beat Shakhtar comfortably, an unexpected outcome cannot be ruled out entirely. It's worth remembering their recent match against Bruges, when the Nerazzurri were considered overwhelming favourites yet sensationally lost at home 3-4. And why should Shakhtar be considered any less capable than the Belgian side? The alternative bet is Shakhtar with Handicap (+2.5) at 1.65*.
*Odds are indicative and may vary across different bookmakers.
⭐ Editor's Prediction
The bookmakers see Inter as the clear favourites for this match, and it is hard to argue with that assessment. The gap in class between the two sides is enormous, and after their shock defeat to Bruges, the Milanese will surely do everything they can to avoid another slip-up. However, the desire to make amends may not be enough on its own to produce a solid defensive performance. Inter's defensive problems are systemic - their entire defensive structure needs rebuilding, and there was very little time to work on that after the Bologna match. So in the end we are going with Both Teams to Score - Yes. Predicted score: 3-2.
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Betting Tips: Inter Milano - Shakhtar Donetsk
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