This is a must game to follow for various reasons. Picked as the home side in the tie will not have the privelege of being at home. Shakhtar have not played a match in their modern home stadium since Malaysian Airlines flight 17 was shot down in the Donbass region.
Amid the humanitarian aid and structural damage, the stadium will not host Skakhtar’s matches anytime soon. Ukrainian champions are team currently living and training in Kiev and has leased the Arena Lviv until the end of 2015.
Bayern Munich will be a bit tensed and stressed heading in to a country who is on the verge of exploding in to war. Thankfully for the Bundesliga champions, things are much better in Ukraine as the governments have agreed to a cease fire which has given the chance for the situation to be rescued to an extent.
Tactical Battle: Recent form, Team news, Possible Lineups and Key Men to watch
Shakhtar Donetsk
Shakhtar Donetsk come in to the game having not played a competitive game since December. Ukrainian Premier League does not kick off until 28th February. After such a long break away from the game Bayern Munich were the last team Skakhtar could have hoped to play against. Being at home would be a saving grace as Shakhtar would look to make the best of the home tie.
Long serving manager Mircea Lucescu prefers a 4-2-3-1 formation with Darijo Srna, Olexandr Kucher, Yaroslav Rakitskiy and Marcio Azevedo at the back. Lucescu would miss Taras Stepanenko’s presence as he received two yellow cards in the group stages and will serve his 1 game ban tonight. In Stepanenko’s absence Fernando is expected to partner Fred in Shakhtar’s midfield.
Having said all that Donetsk’s strength lies in their front 4 of Douglas Costa, Alex Teixeira, Taison and star turned Luiz Adriano. Brazlian Adriano is the leading goal scorer in this season’s Champions League ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi with 9 goals. The front 4 of Shakhtar has brisk pace and would hurt Bayern on the counter attacks, which at time is Bayern Munich’s area of weakness.
As the conflict in eastern Ukraine geared up last July, a number of Donetsk’s Brazilians (13 in the first team) decided against flying back to the country, after a preseason friendly in France, fearing for their safety.
Probable Lineup: Shakhtar Donetsk (4-3-2-1) – Pyatov, Darijo Srna, Olexandr Kucher, Yaroslav Rakitskiy, Marcio Azevedo, Fred, Fernando, Douglas Costa, Alex Teixeira, Taison, Adriano
Bayern Munich
On form, Bayern Munich could be the best team in the Europe right now as the Bavarian would come off fresh from their 8-0 humiliation of Hamburg. Bayern Munich’s players have enjoyed a well timed winter break and it has kicked off their season after few initial blips to the new year which saw Bayern Munich owned by Wolfsburg in a 4-1 defeat.
Bayern’s attacking capabilities were on full flight against Hamburs as each of their attackers got on the scoresheet. Manager Pep Guardiola has looked to move away from his fluid 3-4-3 system to a more dependable 4-2-3-1 system where he asks for more command than flair from his side.
Bayern would play with the same 4-3-2-1 formation with Dvid Alaba slotting in mid field alongside Bastian Schweinstiger.
Bayern’s front men are freightning for the opponents. Arjen Robben, Mario Gotze, Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski are a dream for any manager and Guardiola has the privilege of using all of them in his playing 11. Mario Gotze has impressed the most this season while Arjen Robben has continued his dominant form this season scoring 16 goals for the Bavarians.
Probable Lineup: Bayern Munich (4-3-2-1) – Neuer; Bernat, Benatia, Boateng, Rafinha; Schweinsteiger, Alaba; Robert Lewandowski, Mario Gotze, Arjen Robben; Thomas Muller
Stat Attack
- Bayern have scored 10 goals in their last two games and have conceded none.
- Luiz Adriano has nine goals so far in the UEFA Champions League and has a minute per goal ratio of 50.
- Shakhtar have a good record against Bundesliga teams with 3 wins and 1 loss in their last 4 home games.
- Bayern don’t have the best of records in Ukraine with one win and one draw in five games.
Key men to watch
Luiz Adriano (Shakhtar Donetsk) – When you have already scored 9 goals in Europe’s elite tournament, you will attract attention from the opponents. This is what Adrianow ill feel in tonight’s clash against Munich. Benatia and Boateng will stick tight to him and will not allow him any space to work with. Adriano will Shakhtar’s real hope of causing the biggest upset of this season’s Champions League.
Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich) – He is the man, who is making Bayern Munich tick at the moment. The crafty Dutchman has goals and assists glued to his boots. With 16, he is Munich’s leading goal scorer this season. Robben’s trademark cut back and shot from his left foot are becoming a regular feature for the bavarians and Shakhtar would look to stop him from doing that.
Prediction: Bayern Munich come in to the game on the back of a 8-0 win and one of their recent performances in Champions League was a 7-1 mauling of AS Roma. There are very little things which can take the game away from Bayern tonight. Bavarians would look to build on the momentum and continue their march towards the finals of this season’s final. I see an away win for Bayern Munich. I am going for a 2-0 win for Bayern Munich
Stat Credits: opta, whoscored