Inter are building momentum at a critical point of the season, sitting joint-top of Serie A with 19 points from seven games while finally getting their Champions League campaign off the ground. The 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, secured by Carlos Augusto's second-half winner, gave Cristian Chivu's side their first points in the competition after back-to-back defeats against Real Madrid and Club Brugge. The win was hard-earned and came under difficult circumstances, with Alessandro Bastoni dismissed in the 69th minute after two bookings, forcing Inter to defend with ten men for the closing stages. As Goal reports, it was Mkhitaryan's assist and Carlos Augusto's finish that proved decisive, with goalkeeper Josep Martinez also drawing praise for a commanding display. The red card, however, creates a fresh problem. Bastoni joins an injury list that already includes Lautaro Martinez, Curtis Jones, and John Stones, leaving Chivu with limited defensive options heading into a busy period. Pio Esposito did not even make it off the bench against Shakhtar, as noted by Goal, adding another question mark to the attacking picture. Inter now face Fiorentina at San Siro on Sunday, a match they enter as favourites despite the fatigue and suspensions accumulated through the week. The derby against Milan on October 31 then follows, making squad depth the defining issue of the coming days.