Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia

Shakhtarvs.Bayern

sportsmole.co.uk, 8 December 2024, 21:34
Vincent Kompany's Bayern Munich will hope to push towards the Champions League's top eight on Tuesday when they face home team Shakhtar Donetsk at Veltins-Arena.

The Ukrainian hosts are in 26th place with four points after five matchdays in the Europe's premier competition, losing 3-2 against PSV Eindhoven on November 27, while the Bavarians are in 13th place with nine points and beat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 on November 26.

Match preview

Shakhtar have played their domestic home matches at Arena Lviv in the west of Ukraine, but due to the ongoing conflict in the region, they have played all of their home European games in Germany at Veltins-Arena.

Hirnyky will be concerned by their defeat against PSV considering they had taken a 2-0 lead after 37 minutes but conceded three goals between the 87th minute and the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time.

Manager Marino Pusic's side are currently third in their domestic league with 33 points after 15 matches, four fewer than first-placed Dynamo Kyiv, but their record of 41 goals scored is the division's best return.

Pusic's team are in good form, as while they have won one, drawn one and lost one of their three most recent games, they did prevail in the prior five games.

Shakhtar's home record is also strong, with the club having triumphed in seven of their past eight home matches, and they have also won three of their four most recent Champions League fixtures when playing as the home team.

As for their opponents, Bayern come into the clash having beaten Heidenheim 4-2 in the Bundesliga on December 7, a match in which they created seven big chances and accumulated 82% possession.

The win would have come as a welcome relief to Kompany, whose side were eliminated from the DFB-Pokal on December 3 when they lost 1-0 against Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen.

The Bavarians are just one point from eighth-placed Monaco, who occupy the final automatic qualification spot for the Champions League's round of 16, and they are in fact just three points from third-placed Barcelona.

Bayern lead the way in the German top flight with 33 points after 13 matchweeks, and they are also the league's best offensive and defensive side having scored 41 goals and conceded on 11 occasions.

Kompany's win against Heidenheim was his first in his last three games, but the Belgian did oversee seven consecutive victories in his team's previous fixtures, a period in which they did not concede a single goal.

The visitors are unbeaten in their past four away games, winning three, but it should be noted that they have failed to triumph in any of their last five matches on the road in the Champions League, losing four times.

Shakhtar Donetsk Champions League form:

D

L

L

W

L

Shakhtar Donetsk form (all competitions):

Bayern Munich Champions League form:

W

L

L

W

W

Bayern Munich form (all competitions):

W

W

W

D

L

W

Team News

Shakhtar will be without both winger Pedrinho and left-back Pedro Henrique, who are suspended for Tuesday's game.

Goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk could be protected by a back four consisting of Irakli Azarovi, Mykola Matviyenko, Valeriy Bondar and Yukhym Konoplia.

In light of Pedrinho's absence, Oleksandr Zubkov, Danylo Sikan and Kevin are likely to be selected to start in the forward line.

Meanwhile, Bayern will be unable to call upon a number of players, including defenders Alphonso Davies, Hiroki Ito and Josip Stanisic, as well as goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

Kompany may be forced to field a backline of Sacha Boey, Dayot Upamecano, Kim Min-jae and Raphael Guerreiro in front of Sven Ulreich.

Midfielder Joao Palhinha, as well as forwards Harry Kane and Kingsley Coman, will miss out, so expect to see an attack featuring Michael Olise, Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sane and Thomas Muller in front of Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka.

Shakhtar Donetsk possible starting lineup:

Riznyk; Konoplia, Bondar, Matviyenko, Azarovi; Bondarenko, Kryskiv, Sudakov; Zubkov, Sikan, Kevin

Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:

Neuer; Boey, Upamecano, Kim, Guerreiro; Kimmich, Goretzka; Olise, Musiala, Sane; Muller

We say: Shakhtar Donetsk 1-3 Bayern Munich

Bayern could take some time to settle into the game considering they have a number of injury absentees in their defence and attack, and it would be surprising if they managed to keep a clean sheet.

Written by

Lewis Nolan

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

16 March 2025 talksport.com Ruben Loftus-Cheek had a cheeky explanation as to why he remained on the turf following Dele Alli's challenge on Saturday. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Under-21 goalkeeper Dermot Mee, 22, is set to make his Manchester United debut at Leicester tonight, talkSPORT understands. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Neil Harris abruptly ended his post-match interview after a damning assessment of his Cambridge United players. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal are supposedly among the clubs keeping a watchful eye on Lille's teenage sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea attacker Cole Palmer is not in the Blues' squad to face Arsenal in Sunday's Premier League London derby at the Emirates. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly learned what it will take to prise Jobe Bellingham away from Sunderland in the summer transfer window. 16 March 2025 talksport.com At his current rate, Arne Slot may well have his own mural at Anfield, but he'll certainly hope it's better than the first big tribute of his career. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Victor Osimhen will be a Premier League player next season, talkSPORT has been told. 16 March 2025 talksport.com talkSPORT has you covered for all the latest Premier League news in a jam-packed weekend of football. 16 March 2025 talksport.com talkSPORT has you covered for all the latest Premier League news in a jam-packed weekend of football. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Valencia captain Jose Gaya showed his commitment to the relegation-threatened side by playing through a painful finger dislocation. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Dele Alli's announced his return to football with a red card less than 10 minutes after coming off the bench in a 2-1 loss to AC Milan. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly weighing up an approach for 18-year-old Nordsjaelland winger Sindre Walle Egeli, who has been likened to Bayern Munich legend Arjen Robben. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has warned La Liga that Saturday's game against Villarreal is "the last time" that his side will take to the field less than 72 hours between matches. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier has reportedly 'grabbed the attention' of Manchester United, who are debating whether to pursue an Andre Onana upgrade this summer. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has reportedly expressed a shock interest in signing Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez, who is expected to be given the boot by Anfield chiefs this summer. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Former Premier League striker Jermain Defoe has exclusively told Sports Mole that nobody should be surprised that Marcus Rashford has excelled on loan at Aston Villa. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Philadelphia vs. Nashville (Sunday, 6.25pm) The first of three MLS fixtures on Sunday will see the Philadelphia Union seeking to maintain their 100% record when they host Nashville SC at Subaru Park. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Caykur Rizespor vs. Bodrumspor (Sunday, 10.30am) Caykur Rizespor play host to Bodrumspor searching for the win that would ensure that they retain their position in the top half of the Super Lig table. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arouca vs. Estoril (Sunday, 3.30pm) The action continues in round 26 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga as Arouca and Estoril Praia go head-to-head at the Estadio Municipal de Arouca on Sunday. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Go Ahead Eagles vs. Willem II (Sunday, 11.15am) In a match that could impact both the race for European football and the relegation battle in the Eredivisie, Go Ahead Eagles are set to host Willem II at De Adelaarshorst on Sunday. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Leganes vs. Betis (Sunday, 1.00pm) Real Betis will be bidding to post a fifth straight win in La Liga when they continue their season away to Leganes on Sunday afternoon. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Venezia vs. Napoli (Sunday, 11.30am) Having finally ended their five-match wait for a win, Napoli will attempt to seize top spot in Serie A when they visit Venezia on Sunday. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk VfL Bochum vs. Frankfurt (Sunday, 2.30pm) VfL Bochum's push for survival in the Bundesliga continues on Sunday at Vonovia Ruhrstadion when they host Champions League hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Lyon vs. Le Havre (Sunday, 2.00pm) Lyon host Le Havre in Ligue 1 this weekend at the Groupama Stadium, with the two sides needing the points for different reasons. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic vs. Rangers (Sunday, 12.30pm) Celtic will host Rangers at Celtic Park on Sunday in a highly anticipated Old Firm derby clash between the top two teams in the Scottish Premiership. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly dropped their interest in signing former youth product and current Lille midfielder Angel Gomes on a free transfer this summer. 15 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly entered discussions with Nico Williams's camp over a summer deal for the Athletic Bilbao attacker, who is also wanted by Barcelona and Bayern Munich. 15 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly reached an agreement to sign Sporting Lisbon midfielder Dario Essugo in an £18.5m deal after already securing the signature of Geovany Quenda.