Inter-Shakhtar Donetsk: 2-0 - Champions 2021/2022. Final result and commentary from the game

Where the match is played:
Stadium: Giuseppe Meazza
City: Milano
Capacity for: 80074 people18:21

Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of the Champions League encounter between Inter Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk. This evening, the home side can move a step closer to qualification, should they beat their Ukrainian opponents, who have already been eliminated.18:21

Inter have won two of their opening four games in the competition, a run of form that has left them second in Group D. They trail Real Madrid by two points, but they still have work to do, with Sheriff Tiraspol closely behind them in third.18:23

Shakhtar have endured a miserable campaign so far, losing three and drawing one of their opening four games. However, Roberto De Zerbi's men have done better domestically, and they are unbeaten in 12 top-flight matches in Ukraine.18:25

INTER (3-5-2): Samir Handanovic; Milan Skriniar, Andrea Ranocchia, Alessandro Bastoni; Matteo Darmian, Nicolo Barella, Marcelo Brozovic, Hakan Calhanoglu, Ivan Perisic; Edin Dzeko, Lautaro Martínez.18:31

SUBS: Denzel Dumfries, Roberto Gagliardini, Federico Dimarco, Arturo Vidal, Aleksandar Kolarov, Stefano Sensi, Joaquin Correa, Matías Vecino, Ionut Radu, Alex Cordaz, Danilo D'Ambrosio.18:32

SHAKHTAR (4-3-2-1): Anatolii Trubin; Dodo, Vitao, Marlon Santos, Mykola Matvyenko; Mateus Tete, Taras Stepanenko, Maycon; Pedrinho, Manor Solomon; Fernando18:33

SUBS: Valerii Bondar, Danylo Sikan, Sergey Krivtsov, Yevhen Konoplyanka, Marlos Bonfim, Andriy Pyatov, Yukhym Konoplia, Mykhailo Mudryk, Oleksiy Shevchenko, Artem Bondarenko, Marcos Antonio, Viktor Korniienko.18:36

Simone Inzaghi makes one change to his starting XI following Sunday's 3-2 success over Napoli. Dzeko returns to the fold, while Correa drops to the bench. After returning from injury at the weekend, Pedrinho returns for Shakhtar, but there's no place in the squad for injured trio Lassina Traore, Junior Moraes and Yevhen Konoplyanka.21:05

While both of these teams are in good form of late, we could be in for a low-scoring affair. Each of the previous three games between these two sides have ended goalless.18:38

The two teams are in the tunnel at the Giuseppe Meazza, and we are moments away from kick-off.18:45

We are underway!18:45

Inzaghi's side have made a strong start already, with an early corner coming to nothing. Brozovic tried his luck from the edge of the box, but he could only volley over the crossbar.18:47

Shakhtar have barely had a touch of the ball, and this has been a great start from the Italian outfit.18:50

Martinez and Dzeko combine on the edge of the Shakhtar box with a quick one-two, but the latter failed to keep his composure and blasted his shot wide of the goal.18:53

Inzaghi's side are refusing to rush things, but despite a lack of chances, they are setting a solid tempo and asking questions of the visitors' defence.18:57

CHANCE! Perisic takes on the Shakhtar defence and cuts the ball back for fellow midfielder Barella. Sadly for Inter, Barella lost his footing near the penalty spot and leaned back, so his shot could only clear the crossbar.18:58

Sticking with Perisic, the Inter winger has been busy inside the first 15 minutes. His defensive work rate has been superb, while his pace has caused problems for Dodo in the Shakhtar defence.19:05

Shakhtar register their first shot on target as Dodo drills his shot into the floor. The right-back aimed for the near post from 30 yards out, but Handanovic dealt with the danger, and it remains 0-0.19:01

It's taken them 20 minutes, but Shakhtar are slowly coming into tonight's game. They are winning more tackles inside the Inter half; now they need to start creating chances.21:21

CLOSE! Martinez tries to open the scoring on two occasions, but both of his efforts are blocked. The second one took a wicked deflection, and Inter now have a corner. 21:22

CLOSE! Ranocchia wrestled away from his marker, and that gave him the chance to open the scoring, but the Inter defender headed the ball over the bar. It really should be 1-0 to Inzaghi's troops!19:10

GOAL DISALLOWED - Inter are denied by the offside flag after Perisic fired into the bottom corner. There was nothing wrong with the Croatian's turn and shot, but Darmian, who crossed him the ball, had stepped offside in the build-up.19:12

This game has really come alive, with both teams registering a chance in the last minute. Dzeko saw a shot blocked inside the Shakhtar box before the visitors raced clear on the counter-attack, allowing Fernando to shoot, but his effort was blocked for a corner which came to nothing.19:13

SAVE!! Inter have wasted some glorious chances tonight, and Dzeko is the latest player to try his luck. The former Manchester City striker latched onto a cross and headed for goal, only to see Trubin get down in time to deny him.19:14

Inter are unbeaten in their six meetings with Shakhtar in European competition to date, while they have also kept five clean sheets during that time.19:15

WIDE! Fernando seems like the only Shakhtar player that could score this evening, but he wastes another chance as he curls a shot wide of the Inter goal. 19:19

Block! Martinez thought he had done enough as he raced onto a throughball, but his first touch was a little sloppy, and Trubin dived at his feet as he went for goal. 19:21

The game comes to a halt as the two teams are told to calm down by the referee. Ovidiu Hategan showed no yellow cards, but it all stemmed from an incident in the penalty box. Martinez went down in the area, claiming he was pushed. The Shakhar defence took offence to his apparent dive, and both teams are now told to get on with the rest of the half.19:24

We have another delay as Trubin has some tape around his knee adjusted! There's no sign of any injury, but we will keep our eye on the Shakhtar goalkeeper.19:24

Martinez tries his luck yet again, but he could only produce a tame shot from the edge of the penalty area. There's been plenty of effort on show from both teams, but we are just missing that touch of class in the final third.19:27

Considering the chances we have witnessed, it is a big surprise to see the score still at 0-0. Shakhtar's best two players Dodo and Fernando, need more help after the break if they are to take the lead, but if any side are to break the deadlock, it looks like the home team. 21:23

Two minutes of added time to come at the end of the first half. 19:30

HALF-TIME - INTER 0-0 SHAKHTAR.19:32

Inter's dominance counts for very little as the two teams head down the tunnel in Milan. Martinez, Barella, Ranocchia and Dzeko all had chances to score, while Perisic had a goal disallowed for offside. Inzaghi's team set a frantic tempo and looked to have the upper hand against Shakhtar, but there's still life in the Ukrainian side. Both Dodo and Fernando have stood out for the visitors, and we should be in for another frantic half of football.19:35

Inter midfielder Calhanoglu was a little quiet in the first half, and Inzaghi will try to get more out of him in the second half. However, there's every chance that the floodgates will open once the opening goal is scored.19:38

Stepanenko, who was an injury doubt before kick-off, is replaced by Antonio at half-time.19:48

We are back underway in Milan!19:48

The referee stops the game to allow Vitao to receive treatment for a head injury after he collided with Dzeko near the halfway line. 19:52

Vitao is back on his feet, but he received a yellow card, with the referee claiming he brought down Dzeko intentionally.19:53

Don't forget, Shakhtar need to win tonight if they want to have any chance of finishing in third.19:56

Inter win a corner as Martinez sees his shot blocked, but he wants a penalty. Before he tried his luck, Martinez was bundled to the floor by Dodo, and VAR will need to check this.19:58

The VAR officials have checked the incident, and they have rejected Inter's penalty appeals!19:59

GOAL DISALLOWED! Inter find the back of the net for a second time, but Martinez's celebrations are only temporary. The powerful forward volleyed the ball home at the far post, but the referee spotted that he pushed Matvyenko in order to open up some space. 20:03

Inter are the team with the most shots in the first half of this Champions League games, having tried their luck on 62 occasions. That is 11 more than any other team, but they have scored only one goal, only Dinamo Kyiv have scored less, with only 16 shots.20:03

Darmian claims the assist, and he will be grateful after seeing his original shot blocked by the Shakhtar defence.21:25

Just what Inter needed, Shakhtar have not been at the races in the second half, and Inzaghi's team deserve to lead at home.20:08

Perisic has shown exactly why he's playing at this level with that cross. Shakhtar didn't do enough to contain him, and he gives Dzeko the chance to score from point-blank range.20:12

Inzaghi decides to give Martinez a rest, with Correa taking his place.20:12

Just over 20 minutes left of this Champions League encounter, and Dzeko is on a hat-trick. The way he has played tonight, it would not be a surprise to see him go home with the match ball.20:13

Pedrinho has been quiet tonight and he now makes way for Bondarenko.20:18

For the first time in the second half, the tempo has dropped, and that will suit Shakhtar down the ground as they look to keep the scoreline respectable. 20:18

The home fans rise to their feet as Barella is replaced by Vidal for the final 12 minutes.20:21

Darmian is also given an early night, with D'Ambrosio his replacement.20:22

De Zerbi turns to his bench again as Marlos replaces Tete.20:24

Fernando is also making his way around the pitch as Mudryk gets the chance to impress.20:25

After scoring twice, Dzeko now has scored 50 goals in Europe. 25 goals in 60 appearances in the Champions League and 25 goals in 48 games in Europa League. What a fine career he has had.20:23

CHANCE! Shakhtar are inches away from scoring, but Dodo's effort hits the upright before trickling along the goal line and out for a goal-kick. Mudryk did what he could to tap home from close range on the rebound, but he missed the ball, and it's somehow still 2-0 to Inzaghi's side.21:30

After grabbing an assist tonight, Perisic's night is now over, as Dimarco enters the game.20:30

Sensi gets less than five minutes to catch the eye, with Calhanoglu the one to make way.20:31

Shakhtar have done well to keep the scoreline at 2-0, but Inter have not charged forward with the same intensity since doubling their advantage. At least this result puts pressure on Real Madrid, who face Sheriff Tiraspol later this evening.20:31

SAVE! Sensi is close to making an immediate impact off the bench as he smashes a right-footed volley towards goal, but Trubin gets across his goal to deny him. 20:34

Three minutes of stoppage time to come...20:34

FULL-TIME - INTER 2-0 SHAKHTAR.20:37

Inter are almost through to the knockout stages of the Champions League in what is a landmark night for the club after several disappointing years in the competition. Sheriff need to beat Real Madrid tonight to halt Inter's progress, while Shakhtar's dreams of qualifying are over. Inter scored two great goals through striker Dzeko, with the former Roma ace scoring from the edge of the box before heading home from close range. Perisic and Martinez also found the back of the net, but officials chalked off their goals. The Ukrainian side were outclassed on their travels, and they have now lost four of their five games in this season's competition.20:42

Inter will square off against Real Madrid in their final match in the group, meaning Sheriff travel to Ukraine to face Shakhtar. Inter's place in the knockout stages could have already been confirmed, and they will enjoy watching tonight's game as they try to celebrate their achievements. 20:45

That is all for tonight folks, thanks for joining us. Goodbye!20:45