Inter-Shakhtar Donetsk: 5-0 - Europa League 2019/2020. Final result and commentary from the game
Stadio Merkur Spielarena di Düsseldorf August 17th, 2020 ore 21:00
Inter
5
Shakhtar Donetsk
0
Game over
Arbitro: Szymon Marciniak
19'1-0Lautaro Martínez
64'2-0Danilo D'Ambrosio
74'3-0Lautaro Martínez
78'4-0Romelu Lukaku
83'5-0Romelu Lukaku
0'
45'
90'
90'
Inter fire themselves into the Europa League final with a five-star display. Shakhtar were no match for the Italians who were simply too savvy for them. Inter edged their way in front in the first half, holding Shakhtar at arm's length, then blitzed the Ukrainians in the second as Shakhtar tired. Conte's team will take some stopping in the final.
Inter were excellent to a man across the pitch today. Of course, Martinez and Lukaku will get the plaudits for scoring two goals each, but Inter limited Shakhtar to only one shot on target all game: that Moraes header straight at Handanovic which could have made it 1-1. Had that gone in, it might have been a different game. Sadly for Shakhtar, it was not to be.
Inter will face Sevilla in the Europa League final in Cologne in a few days' time then. The Italians have to be favourites to lift the trophy on this evidence. Shakhtar's season ends in a disappointing performance but they can be proud of their run. They can always dream of next year. That's all for now. Goodbye!
Cronaca
Formazioni
Statistiche
90'
FULL-TIME: INTER 5-0 SHAKHTAR DONETSK22:47
89'
Eriksen floats the corner in and Gagliardini forces a smart save from Pyatov. Shakhtar are given the free-kick due to a push on Stepanenko from Gagliardini as he got up into the air.22:47
88'
This is an exhibition for Inter now who are cantering into the Europa League final. The Italians get a corner down their right which Eriksen will take. 22:46
86'
Shakhtar have totally switched off now. They're lucky not to be six down as Esposito hits the side-netting, but the substitute's offside from Barella's pass anyway.22:45
85'
Brozovic also gets to enjoy the last few minutes from the bench. Sensi is on for him.22:44
85'
Lukaku leaves the game after finally making his mark on it. Esposito takes Lukaku's place up front with his job done.22:43
83'
De Vrij gets the assist for Lukaku's second goal, laying off to the Belgian in midfield. Lukaku did most of the work on his own. What a player he is.22:43
83'
GOAL! 5-0 INTER! This has turned into a rout. Lukaku grabs a brace of his own, powering past.Khocholava to slot home from the right of the box. That came seconds after Dodo fired wide from outside of the box. Shakhtar have been roasted.
Martinez's game is over. Eriksen comes on for the last 10 minutes to shore things up for Inter.22:40
81'
Inter make a few late changes. D'Ambrosio off. Moses on.22:40
80'
Lukaku has now scored in 10 consecutive Europa League matches, a record stretching back to November 2014 with Everton. He belongs in the Champions League where Inter will be returning next season.22:40
78'
Martinez' pass was simple but effective. He and Lukaku really are getting the best out of each other. It's rare to see great strike partnerships these days but this is definitely looking like one of them.22:38
78'
GOAL! 4-0 INTER! What a statement of intent this is turning into by Inter. Martinez returns the favour to Lukaku, sliding the Belgian in to tap calmly in with his left foot from the right of the box.
D'Ambrosio welcomes Konoplyanka to the game by fouling him. Inter have been canny in committing fouls in areas of the pitch where they've been unlikely to be penalised.22:36
75'
Shakhtar substitution. Marlos trudges off. Konoplyanka enters the fray for the last 15 minutes.22:34
74'
Lukaku claims the assist for finding his strike partner quickly. He and Martinez have been at the heart of everything good Inter have done this season.22:33
74'
GOAL! 3-0 INTER! Inter are surely heading to the Europa League final. Stepanenko loses out in midfield to Brozovic and suddenly Shakhtar are in trouble. Inter break and Martinez nabs his second of the game, firing home from outside the box.
Lukaku bustles his way into the centre of the box and rolls a shot straight at Pyatov. Conte's head is in his hands. It's an unexpectedly tame effort from a man who's been in great form prior to this game.22:30
71'
D'Ambrosio has scored three goals in his last five games for Inter, as many as he had scored in his previous 58 appearances. Now's not a bad time of the season for the wing-back to start finding the net for his team.22:28
69'
Marlos floats the free-kick in. It goes over everyone's heads and bounces out for an Inter goal-kick. The Ukrainians have lacked the spark they showed in their previous match, probably because Inter have done such a good job of snuffing them out.23:02
68'
Gagliardini cuts in front of Marlos and puts the Brazilian's run to a halt. Shakhtar have a free-kick maybe 35 yards out.22:25
66'
Inter substitution. Young gets a rest for the final quarter of the game at least. He's replaced by Biraghi.22:24
64'
Brozovic's corner in was magnificent. Conte celebrated that goal with some force, as he should. Shakhtar have a lot to do to get back into this game.22:24
64'
GOAL! 2-0 INTER! On such narrow margins are semi-finals decided. D'Ambrosio sneaks in front of Matvyenko at the far post and nods Brozovic's corner past Pyatov! Inter look unstoppable now.
Up the other end, Inter win a corner down their right. Brozovic lofts it in and...22:20
62'
Shakhtar almost equalise with their first shot on target! Maybe they should have done. Matvyenko fires in Shakhtar's first decent cross of the game and Moraes heads it back across goal straight at Handanovic. The Ukrainians need more deliveries like that.22:19
61'
Inter have a subtle but perceptible strangehold on this game. Martinez goes toe-to-toe with Khocholava and the centre-back knocks the ball against the forward to get Shakhtar a throw-in.22:18
60'
Young bustles down the left and reaches the byline. His cutback can't find a teammate though and Shakhtar clear their lines.22:16
59'
Shakhtar decide now's the time to make their first change. Alan Patrick makes way for the Israeli forward Solomon.22:16
58'
Taison gets the first yellow card of the game for that foul on Bastoni. It's been quite a clean game.22:15
57'
Lukaku tumbles with Khocholava at his back but it isn't a foul. Inter come again and Taison trips the rampaging Bastoni.22:14
55'
Bastoni carries the ball out from the back and finds D'Ambrosio on the run down the right. D'Ambrosio cuts back for the underlapping Barella but the midfielder's cross is blocked. 22:12
53'
Marcos Antonio wins a free-kick in the centre of the pitch as Gagliardini fouls him. It's too deep for Shakhtar to create much from it though.22:11
51'
Inter are opening up Shakhtar at the back now. Young finds Lukaku on the left of Shakhtar's box. Lukaku's shot is close but fizzes wide to the right of Pyatov's goal.22:09
49'
Inter's corner isn't worth mentioning but Pyatov saves again from Martinez from the follow-up. That's woken Shakhtar up. Taison goes for the spectacular himself up the other end and doesn't find the target.22:07
48'
Martinez nearly scores a stunner! Khocholava gets himself in a right mess on the ball and Martinez barges him off it fairly. The Argentine spots Pyatov off his line and goes for the chip, but Shakhtar's veteran keeper leaps high to tip it aside. Pyatov gives his defence a piece of his mind.22:06
47'
Shakhtar are playing with a smidge more purpose. Matvyenko plays the ball down the line for Taison to chase but he's nudged off it by D'Ambrosio. They get a free-kick shortly after due to a handball by Gagliardini.22:04
45'
Shakhtar get the second half going. Neither side has made any changes.22:02
Shakhtar didn't have a shot on target in that first half as Inter disrupted Moraes' supply lines. Shakhtar need their front man to start firing in the second half - he's been involved in seven goals in his last seven Europa League appearances for them. But can Shakhtar open Inter up?21:53
Inter lead at half-time thanks to Martinez's header. The Italians have been typically street-smart so far in this match, allowing Shakhtar to have the lion's share of possession but giving them no sight of goal at all. Shakhtar look stumped as to how to deal with this. Plenty for them to think about during the break.21:50
45'+1'
HALF-TIME: INTER 1-0 SHAKHTAR DONETSK21:47
45'+1'
Shakhtar's latest attack breaks down and Barella has eyes only for Lukaku. The pass isn't right for Lukaku and the Belgian's furious, punching the air in frustration. Inter have played well but he's been quiet as of yet.21:46
45'
There'll be just the one added minute in this first half. 21:45
43'
Inter have a black and blue wall of eight players just in front of their box and Shakhtar can't find a way through. Marcos Antonio spots a crack in Inter's defences for a second and lets rip an effort from distance. He's not too far off.21:44
41'
Khocholava blasts an ambitious crossfield ball in the direction of Marlos under pressure from D'Ambrosio. Young shields it well and it goes out for an Inter goal-kick.21:42
39'
Bastoni fouls Marlos yet it's nowhere near Inter's goal. Shakhtar have barely had a sniff in Inter's box in this first half.21:40
37'
Shakhtar almost get into trouble as Inter zip quickly down their left before Pyatov rushes out to prevent Martinez latching onto the ball in the box. They're losing the war of attrition.21:39
35'
Inter's corner is a non-event but they still have the ball. Martinez's return pass to Gagliardini is poor and Shakhtar spot an opportunity. Moraes heads well wide from Marlos' deep cross.21:36
33'
De Vrij clambers over the back of Moraes near the halfway line, handing Shakhtar a free-kick. The Ukrainians promptly squander it by putting it straight out for an Inter throw and Pyatov tips Barella's shot from a tight angle over the bar! It was heading straight for the top right corner.21:34
32'
Inter are back on the attack. Bastoni fires a crossfield pass to Martinez who takes it well on the turn. The Argentine looks to find D'Ambrosio out wide straight away but the pass has a touch too much power on it to find the wing-back.21:32
30'
Inter clear the corner without much fuss at all. Shakhtar will need to up their game if they're going to break down this well-drilled Inter defence.21:31
28'
Shakhtar have created precious little so far with Inter proving more difficult to break down than Basel were in their previous game. Dodo finds some rare space down the right and crosses low for Moraes. It's put out for a Shakhtar corner.21:30
26'
Shakhtar make a lucky escape as Bastoni's whipped delivery from the left eludes Shakhtar's defenders. It finds D'Ambrosio on the opposite side who fires back across goal and wide from close range! Martinez is offside anyway.21:28
25'
Barella fires in another low cross from deep on the right. It briefly looks like it might reach Lukaku but the Belgian - so influential in Inter's last game against Leverkusen - isn't positioned correctly and Krivtsov clears.21:26
24'
Shakhtar are moving the ball around more quickly now but Inter are holding firm. Marcos Antonio tries swinging a cross into Inter's box from the right but Young is there to block it. 21:24
22'
No sooner does Martinez score that Inter get their second shot of the game as Barella's effort is blocked. Shakhtar suddenly look nervy but they're let off when Khocholava comes off the worse in a challenge with D'Ambrosio and gains the referee's sympathy. 21:23
21'
That Martinez goal wasn't just Inter's first shot of the game. It was the first shot of the game overall. It's been quite a cagey game so far but nonetheless enthralling for it.21:21
19'
That was a fantastic ball in by Barella who made the most of Pyatov's poor pass out. Shakhtar's keeper was definitely at fault for that but he couldn't do anything about Martinez's header.21:20
19'
GOAL! 1-0 INTER! Inter score with their first chance of the game! It came from nothing as Pyatov's sliced kick went straight to Barella. Barella drifts out wide right and swings in a fantastic cross which Martinez heads low into the bottom left corner!
Alan Patrick makes an excellent sliding tackle to prevent Martinez from making progress towards Shakhtar's box. These two teams look evenly matched as things stand.21:18
16'
Shakhtar run out of ideas and play the ball back to Pyatov who booms it forward for Moraes. Godin has got that covered all day long. 21:16
15'
Inter intercept and Lukaku dribbles down the right-hand channel, losing out to Matvyenko. Shakhtar circulate the ball again, searching for what is an elusive opening at the moment.21:15
13'
Matvyenko is left on the deck as D'Ambrosio prevents him controlling Alan Patrick's dink in midfield. Shakhtar take the free-kick but still can't get anywhere near the final third.21:14
12'
Shakhtar still have the ball but can't achieve much with it. Matvyenko gets tired of all this sideways and backwards passing and fires a ball forward that Godin heads out for a throw-in. Shakhtar will have to be patient.21:12
10'
Inter's latest attack breaks down and Shakhtar can enjoy a spell of possession. The Ukrainians look a little tentative at the moment. They're finding it hard to get forward with Inter being so well organised.21:10
8'
Shakhtar put together their first attack of the game. Moraes holds up a direct ball well and lays out wide. It comes back inside to Alan Patrick who threads a pass forward looking for Taison but the Brazilians are out of sync. Inter goal-kick.21:08
6'
D'Ambrosio wins a free-kick for Inter just to the right of Shakhtar's box which Brozovic will take. Brozovic fires a cross towards the far post but it doesn't find an Inter head and bobbles out for a Shakhtar throw-in.21:06
5'
Shakhtar are having to work hard early on. Taison looks to carry the Ukrainians upfield but is shrugged off the ball by Barella. No free-kick.21:05
3'
Inter have their first real attack but the flag goes up for a handball by Barella. D'Ambrosio is penalised for tripping Alan Patrick shortly after.21:04
2'
Inter get a feel for the ball early on, passing the ball safely between their defence and midfield. Shakhtar look quite happy to play on the counter-attack where they were so coruscating against Basel.21:02
1'
Inter get this semi-final underway!21:01
Our two semi-finalists walk out onto the Merker Spielarena pitch. Inter look resplendent in their iconic black and blue home kit. Shakhtar are wearing their all-grey away kit. 20:59
The only previous meetings between Inter and Shakhtar were in the 2005/06 UEFA Champions League qualifying phase, with Inter winning 3-1 on aggregate across two legs. Much has changed since then, of course. Which of these sides will face Sevilla in the Europa League final? We'll soon find out!20:50
Inter start with the same XI that saw off Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 in their quarter-final. Meanwhile there's only one change to the Shakhtar side that dismantled Basel as Khocholova returns to the heart of Shakhtar's defence after serving a one-match ban. Bondar returns to the bench.20:44
SUBS: Cristiano Biraghi, Antonio Candreva, Stefano Sensi, Christian Eriksen, Milan Skriniar, Sebastiano Esposito, Alexis Sanchez, Lorenzo Pirola, Victor Moses, Daniele Padelli, Andrea Ranocchia, Borja Valero.20:31
INTER (3-5-2): Samir Handanovic (c); Diego Godin, Stefan de Vrij, Alessandro Bastoni; Danilo D'Ambrosio, Nicolo Barella, Marcelo Brozovic, Roberto Gagliardini, Ashley Young; Romelu Lukaku, Lautaro Martinez.20:30
Standing in Inter's way are Shakhtar who are looking to reach their second ever European final. Last week the Ukrainians dispatched Basel 4-1 in their quarter-final with a fantastic display of attacking football. Luis Castro and his team will fancy their chances against Inter too.20:28
Inter are almost back as a European force. Antonio Conte has taken Inter back to the semi-finals of a European competition for the first time since their famous treble of 2009/10. Now only one game stands between them and Sevilla in the final in Cologne in a few days' time.20:25
Hello! Welcome to our live text commentary of this second UEFA Europa League semi-final between Inter and Shakhtar Donetsk at Merker Spielarena in Dusseldorf, Germany.20:21
Inter - Shakhtar Donetsk is the semi finals match of Europa League 2019/2020. The match will be 17 august at 21:00 in the stadium Merkur Spielarena in Düsseldorf.
Where to see Inter-Shakhtar Donetsk - Europa League 2019/2020, streaming and live broadcast You can see the live match Inter-Shakhtar Donetsk here on Virgilio Sport starting 21:00 CET on 17 august. Inter-Shakhtar Donetsk will be visible on Sky Italia platform, channel Sky Sport and Sky Calcio. The match will be delivered on streaming with Sky Go.
