The grand NSC Olimpiyskiy will play host to Italian giants Inter in the second round of Group D matches.
Both Shakhtar Donetsk and Inter succumbed to losses in their opening matches against minnows Sheriff and giants Real Madrid respectively, but will look to return to winning ways as the Champions League resumes.
PREVIEW
Shakhtar manager Roberto De Zerbi will face an Italian side for the first time since leaving Sassuolo at the end of last season, as his side welcome Simone Inzaghi’s impressive Inter. The Ukrainians have made an impressive start to their domestic campaign, most recently conquering the Ukrainian Super Cup in a 3-0 win over Dynamo Kyiv.
However, they face a club in Inter, against whom they have never won in six European encounters (W0, D3, L2). To make matters worse, Shakhtar have only won four of their last 20 Champions League fixtures.
This is the second time in two seasons that the duo have been pitched together. Last season, both their meeting ended in stalemates, even as Inter threatened Shakhtar with 32 overall shots with an xG (expected goals) total of 3.1 across the two games.
The Nerazzurri enter the clash on the back of a comeback 2-2 draw against a stern Atalanta side at the Giuseppe Meazza. They are unbeaten in three successive matches, with their last loss arriving at the hands of Real Madrid two weeks ago.
PREVIOUS RESULTS
Shakhtar – W, L, W, W, W
Inter – W, L, W, W, D
EXPECTED LINEUPS & TEAM NEWS
Inter
Simone Inzaghi is bound to stick to his 3-5-2 formation that has worked well so far for his Nerazzurri outfit. Not many changes will affect the team from their Atalanta outing but it wouldn’t be surprising to see Denzel Dumfries pushing for a starting spot in the wing back role in place of Matteo Darmian.
Arturo Vidal, Joaqun Correa, Stefano Sensi and Gabriel Brazao are injury absentees.
3-5-2 – Handanovic; Skriniar, De Vrij, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Brozovic, Calhanoglu, Perisic; Martinez, Dzeko
Shakhtar
A string of changes are expected to come in for De Zerbi’s side from their last match, with possible spots for Lassina Traore, Ismaily, Maycon, Marlos and Dodo.
Fernando and Junior Moraes are both unavailable for the home side and Mykola Matvienko’s status is still unknown with the centre-back out of the previous match due to a head injury.
4-2-3-1 – Pyatov; Dodo, Marlon, Matvienko, Ismaily; Maycon, Antonio; Tete, Pedrinho, Marlos; Traore
Prediction: Shakhtar 1-3 Inter
Shakhtar’s worrisome recent Champions League record is only worsened by the presence of heavyweights Inter. With their firepower, the Nerazzurri can expected to oust the Ukrainian hosts with a comfortable scoreline.