AC Milan's rival, Inter Milan, has suffered another squad blow ahead of the 2026/27 Champions League league phase matchday three against Shakhtar Donetsk. According to Sport RBC.UA citing the official website of the Milan club, French central defender Benjamin Pavard sustained an injury during a training session and will not be able to help his team in the upcoming European fixture.
Diagnosis: Right Adductor Muscle Strain
A morning medical examination conducted on October 16 at the Humanitas clinic in Milan revealed that the 30-year-old footballer has suffered a strain in his right adductor muscle. According to Italian media, the 2018 World Cup winner with France will need approximately three weeks for full recovery and rehabilitation. Thus, Pavard is guaranteed to miss the match against the Pitmen, which will take place on Wednesday, October 21, at the stadium in Milan.
Wave of Injuries in the Nerazzurri Camp
Pavard's injury is not the first serious problem for the coaching staff of the reigning Italian champions ahead of the European duel with Shakhtar. According to Sport RBC.UA, Inter is facing a whole wave of injuries among key players, and all of them will also be unable to help the team in the match against the Donetsk side. The specific list of absent players is not provided in the material, but the scale of personnel losses highlights the difficulty of the task facing the Milan coaching staff.
The Match Against Shakhtar: Context and Stakes
The matchday three fixture of the 2026/27 Champions League general phase between Inter and Shakhtar will take place on October 21 in Milan. For both teams, the meeting is of fundamental importance for shaping the final standings of the tournament's main stage. For Inter, losing one of their key central defenders amid a general series of injuries, Pavard's absence poses a serious tactical problem, especially considering the defensive tasks in the match against an organized Donetsk team.
It is worth noting that Pavard, who won the World Cup with the French national team in 2018, is one of the most experienced and important players in the Nerazzurri's defensive line. His forced three-week break from playing could affect not only the outcome of the match against Shakhtar but also the club's subsequent tournament ambitions in the Champions League and Serie A.
