Inter vs Shakhtar Donetsk Preview: How to Watch on TV, Live Stream, Kick Off Time & Team News

With Premier League and Serie A titles under his belt, fewer managers have had a more illustrious career over the course of the last decade than Antonio Conte. The one thing missing from the Inter manager's impressive haul of honours, however? It is of course a European trophy.

The former Italy and Juventus boss has now been presented with one of his best chances for some European silverware yet after beating Bayer Leverkusen to advance to the Europa League semi-finals, but standing in his way are a Shakhtar Donetsk side who have been no pushovers in this year's competition.

A winner-takes-all encounter against a Ukrainian outfit who have been rampant on the way to a fourth successive league title will be Conte's toughest proposition so far - here's 90min's preview of one of the North Rhine-Westphalia bubble's most pivotal matches...

Where to Watch

When is Kick Off? Monday 17 August
What Time is Kick Off? 20:00 (BST)
Where is it Played? Düsseldorf Arena
TV Channel/Live Stream? BT Sport 1

Team News

The two sides will likely be largely unchanged from their last game, although Inter will be missing Matías Vecino with a knee complaint. Resurgent forward Alexis Sanchez could well be a doubt, too, after picking up a hamstring strain against Leverkusen.

The absence of Sanchez could well be a huge blow for the Nerazzurri / Soccrates Images/Getty Images

Shakhtar will have the full squad that they took to Germany to choose from, with Davit Khocholava now free to play after serving out his one-match suspension against Basel.

Predicted Lineups

Inter: Handanovic; D'Ambrosio, Godin, De Vrij, Bastoni, Young; Barella, Eriksen, Brozovic; Lukaku, Martinez

Shakhtar Donetsk: Pyatov; Dodo, Khocholava, Kryvtsov, Matviyenko; Antonio, Stepaneko; Tete, Patrick, Taison; Moraes

Recent Form

Shakhtar have looked the team to beat in this season's Europa League / Pool/Getty Images

Though Inter eventually slumped to second place in Serie A, despite having led winners Juventus in the domestic competition going into 2020, they ended the season as strongly as possible, going on an eight-match league unbeaten run and signing off with an impressive 2-0 win over Champions League quarter-finalists Atalanta.

Shakhtar, meanwhile, led the Ukrainian Premier League by a staggering margin, with nearest rivals Dynamo Kyiv finishing 23 points behind them - and unsurprisingly have lost just twice all season. In the Europa League they have been free scoring since the restart, putting three past Wolfsburg and overwhelming Basel in their quarter-final.

Here's a look at how the two sides have got on in their last five fixtures:

Inter

Genoa 0-3 Inter (28/7)
Inter 2-0 Napoli (25/7)
Atalanta 0-2 Inter (1/8)
Inter 2-0 Getafe (5/8)
Inter 2-1 Bayer Leverkusen (10/8)

Shakhtar Donetsk

Desna Chernihiv 2-4 Shakhtar Donetsk (12/7)
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 Kolos Kovalivka (15/7)
Oleksandria 2-2 Shakhtar Donetsk (19/7)
Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 Wolfsburg (5/8)
Shakhtar Donetsk 4-1 Basel (11/8)

Prediction

It doesn't get bigger than this for Conte against a free-scoring Shakhtar Donetsk side, and his famous back five will have their work cut out for them against the likes of Taison and the prolific Junior Moraes.

Lukaku looks determined to win the Europa League at the expense of his former employers Manchester United / Pool/Getty Images

However, the Italian coach has shown time and time again that he is capable of navigating the biggest matches, while Romelu Lukaku looks ultra-motivated in this year's competition - having given Edmond Tapsoba a total nightmare in the previous round.

It won't be easy, but Inter to win.

Prediction: Inter 2-1 Shakhtar Donetsk