Inter vs Shakhtar Donetsk Preview: How to Watch on TV, Live Stream, Kick Off Time & Team News
By Mitch Wilks
Inter host Shakhtar Donetsk in their final game of the group stages in the Champions League, where they can still qualify from Group B despite a dismal showing that sees them bottom with five points.
The group has been full of surprises and remains open heading into the final round of fixtures. Borussia Monchengladbach sit top with just eight points, while Shakhtar are second on seven ahead of Real Madrid by virtue of their superior head to head record.
Literally everything is up for grabs in Group B on Wednesday evening, but the Nerrazzuri can qualify should both they and Real Madrid win their respective fixtures. Shakhtar will qualify should they beat Inter or if both games finish as a draw.
With everything on the line, the stakes couldn't be higher. Here's 90min's preview of the clash.
Where to Watch
When Is Kick Off? Wednesday 9 December
What Time Is Kick Off? 20:00 (GMT)
Where Is it Played? San Siro
TV Channel/Live Stream? BT Sport Extra 2 (UK), fuboTV (US)
Referee? Slavko Vincic
Team News
For Inter, Arturo Vidal is available again following a suspension and could find himself straight back into the starting XI. Fellow midfielders Matias Vecino and Radja Nainggolan remain injured, however.
Alexander Kolarov is also a doubt for Inter and several players are on thin ice and one card away from suspension, including Alessandro Bastoni, Nicolo Barella and Roberto Gagliardini.
Achraf Hakimi has had a slow start to life at his new club this season, but burst into life at the weekend and managed to bag two goals, giving Antonio Conte something to think about for the midweek clash.
Shakhtar have lost Junior Moraes to a thigh injury and could be without him until the new year. Yevhen Konoplyanka, Maksym Malyshev, Ismaily and Viktor Kornienko are all also out of the running.
Predicted Lineups
Inter: Handanovic; Skriniar, De Vrij, Bastoni; Hakimi, Vidal, Barella, Brozovic, Young; Martinez, Lukaku.
Shakhtar Donetsk: Trubin; Bolbat, Vitao, Bondar, Matviyenko; Stepanenko, Kovalenko; Tete, Marlos, Taison; Fernando.
Recent Form
Conte's side have endured a well below par Champions League campaign so far and only managed to snatch their first win last week away to Borussia Monchengladbach.
They drew 0-0 away in Donetsk in October which will give the visitors even more confidence to come to Italy and get a result, with Inter struggling to find any sort of form in Europe.
They sit second in Serie A currently, however, and strolled to a 3-1 victory over the weekend thanks to Hakimi and Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian will be key in firing his side through to the knockout stages against the odds on Wednesday evening, as will strike partner Lautaro Martinez.
Shakhtar have been flying high ever since they lost 4-0 in Germany at the end of November. They managed an incredible win over Real Madrid and put five past their opponents this weekend. Detinho was on the scoresheet against Los Blancos and will no doubt be up for it again with qualification hanging in the balance.
Here's how each side has fared in their last five games.
Inter
Inter 3-1 Bologna (5/12)
Borussia Monchengladbach 2-3 Inter (1/12)
Sassuolo 0-3 Inter (28/11)
Inter 0-2 Real Madrid (25/11)
Inter 4-2 Torino (22/11)
Shakhtar Donetsk
Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1 Mynai (5/12)
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 Real Madrid (1/12)
Dnipro-1 0-1 Shakhtar Donetsk (28/11)
Borussia Monchengladbach 4-0 Shakhtar Donetsk (25/11)
Shakhtar Donetsk 1-1 Oleksandriya (21/11)
Prediction
It's all on the line in Group B, making their fixtures on Wednesday evening the pick of the bunch.
Conte cannot afford to undo his hard work and fail to qualify with what looks to be their strongest side in years. For Shakhtar, though, this opportunity is huge; qualifying alone is a boost, but doing so ahead of Inter and Real Madrid would be special.
The Ukranians will visit Italy and leave everything they've got on the pitch at San Siro, as will Inter. Despite the high stakes, no one will prevail.
Prediction: Inter 2-2 Shakhtar Donetsk