Bayern Munich will hope to strengthen their claim for a top-eight spot when they face Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League.
Shakhtar Donetsk host Bayern Munich on Tuesday night in a crucial UEFA Champions League encounter. The Ukrainian outfit, playing their European home matches in Germany due to ongoing conflicts, will hope to capitalise on “home advantage” as they sit 26th in the competition with four points.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich, managed by Vincent Kompany, aim to secure a top-eight position, as they currently occupy 13th place with nine points. Despite the challenges of playing away from their true home, Shakhtar Donetsk have turned Veltins-Arena into a formidable fortress in European competition. They have won three of their last four home Champions League matches.
However, their latest outing against PSV Eindhoven raised concerns. Shakhtar squandered a 2-0 lead, conceding three goals in the closing stages to lose 3-2. Manager Marino Pusic will hope to address these defensive lapses before Tuesday’s game.
Domestically, Shakhtar are thriving with the league’s best offensive return, netting 41 goals in 15 games. Their recent form shows a strong run of five victories before a mixed set of results: one win, one draw, and one loss. The home side’s resilience will be tested against a dominant Bayern side.
Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich arrive at Veltins-Arena with renewed confidence following their 4-2 Bundesliga win over Heidenheim. The Bavarians controlled 82% possession and created seven big chances in a dominant display.
However, inconsistency has plagued Bayern in the Champions League this term. They have not won any of their last five away matches in Europe’s premier competition, a worrying stat for a club of their stature. Domestically, Bayern has been imperious, leading the Bundesliga with 41 goals scored and just 11 conceded.
Bayern’s challenge on Tuesday will be to translate their domestic dominance into a strong European performance. Currently, they are one point away from automatic qualification for the round of 16 and will see this match as an opportunity to break their away-day blues in the Champions League. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Shakhtar Donetsk
Shakhtar Donetsk will head into Tuesday’s game with a few key absences. Winger Pedrinho and left-back Pedro Henrique are both suspended and will be unavailable for selection, which could alter Marino Pusic’s tactical approach. Despite these setbacks, Shakhtar have the depth to maintain their structure, and the team will rely on replacements to step up against formidable opposition.
For the game against Bayern Munich, Dmytro Riznyk is expected to start in goal in a 4-3-3 formation, shielded by a back four comprising Yukhym Konoplya at right-back, Valeriy Bondar and Mykola Matviyenko as the central defensive pairing, and Irakli Azarovi at left-back.
As for the midfield unit, Oleksandr Bondarenko, Georgiy Sudakov, and Dmytro Kryskiv are likely to form a trio tasked with both defensive solidity and creativity. The forward line is expected to feature Oleksandr Zubkov on the right wing, Kevin on the left, and Danylo Sikan leading the attack as the central striker.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Riznyk; Konoplia, Bondar, Matviyenko, Azarovi; Bondarenko, Kryskiv, Sudakov; Zubkov, Sikan, Kevin
Bayern Munich
Die Roten face significant squad issues ahead of their trip to face Shakhtar Donetsk, with several key players unavailable. Manuel Neuer, Alphonso Davies, Hiroki Ito, and Josip Stanisic are all sidelined due to injuries, leaving Bayern Munich short of defensive options.
Additionally, midfielder Joao Palhinha and forwards Harry Kane and Kingsley Coman will also miss out, limiting Vincent Kompany’s options in attack and midfield. These absences could force tactical adjustments as Bayern aim to secure an important result.
For the match, Bayern Munich are expected to field a 4-2-3-1 formation. Daniel Peretz will deputise in goal, protected by a back four comprising Sacha Boey at right-back, Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-jae as the central defenders, and Raphael Guerreiro at left-back.
In midfield, Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka will form a double pivot, tasked with shielding the defence while also providing the creative link to the forward line. Ahead of them, Jamal Musiala is likely to take up the central attacking midfield role, flanked by Michael Olise on the right wing and Leroy Sane on the left.
Thomas Muller is expected to lead the line as the striker, bringing his experience and versatility to the attack in the absence of Harry Kane. This setup will rely heavily on Bayern Munich’s depth and tactical flexibility to overcome Shakhtar Donetsk’s challenge.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Peretz; Boey, Upamecano, Kim, Guerreiro; Kimmich, Goretzka; Olise, Musiala, Sane; Muller
Key Stats
- This will be the third meeting between Shakhtar Donetsk and Bayern Munich, with their last encounter occurring in the Last 16 of the 2014/15 UEFA Champions League. Bayern progressed 7-0 on aggregate after a 0-0 draw away and a resounding 7-0 victory at home.
- Bayern Munich’s 7-0 win in their last meeting in March 2015 remains Shakhtar Donetsk’s biggest-ever defeat in European competition.
- Bayern Munich are winless in their last five away games in the UEFA Champions League (D1 L4), marking their longest such run since March 2004. Their current streak of three consecutive away losses is the longest in their history in European Cup/Champions League competition.
- Shakhtar Donetsk have won three of their last four home games in the UEFA Champions League (L1), after previously winning only one of 16 home matches in the competition. All three victories have been narrow, single-goal wins against notable opponents such as Barcelona (1-0), Royal Antwerp (1-0), and Young Boys (2-1).
- Since their 9-2 victory over Dinamo Zagreb on Matchday 1, Bayern Munich have only scored three goals in their last four UEFA Champions League matches. Additionally, they haven’t scored more than one goal in any of those games and are currently on a run of five consecutive matches without scoring more than once, the longest such streak since September 2004.
Player to Watch
Michael Olise
Olise will be a key player to watch for Bayern Munich in their encounter with Shakhtar Donetsk. The young French winger, known for his creativity and flair, has been steadily making his mark at the club. With his exceptional dribbling skills, vision, and ability to deliver pinpoint crosses, Olise has the potential to unlock stubborn defenses, which could prove vital against Shakhtar’s resilient backline.
In the absence of Kingsley Coman and Harry Kane, Olise’s role becomes even more significant, as he can step up as a playmaker and goal contributor for the Bavarians. His ability to take on defenders and create scoring opportunities will be crucial for Bayern’s chances to break their recent scoring struggles in the Champions League.
Prediction
Shakhtar Donetsk 1-3 Bayern Munich
Shakhtar Donetsk’s recent home form and attacking prowess make them a tough opponent, but Bayern Munich’s superior quality across the pitch and desperation for a UEFA Champions League away win give the Bavarians the edge. Expect a tightly contested match, with Bayern’s attacking talent likely to prove decisive. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Vincent Kompany and his charges.
