After a cagey but entertaining match that ended 0-0 in the first leg, Bayern Munich and Shakhtar Donetsk face off once more to see who advances to the Champions League quarter final. Bayern hold big edges in talent and home field advantage, but the away goals rule favors Shakhtar if they can keep the scoreline even and they’ll be fighting tooth and nail to do at least that.
Bayern Munich vs. Shakhtar Donetsk, Champions League 2015: Game time, TV schedule and team news
Despite the evenness of the 0-0 scoreline from the first leg, Shakhtar Donetsk have a heck of a big hill to climb if they want to beat Bayern Munich.
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No matter what, this promises to be an immensely entertaining match. Bayern won’t be able to sit back on their advantages, and Shakhtar will be pushing as long and as hard as they can to find a way to win. Shakhtar don’t have the best track record in Germany, though -- they fell 4-0 to Bayer Leverkusen during this season’s group stage, and lost 3-0 against Borussia Dortmund in 2013 at this stage when facing those sides in Germany. Between history and the sheer talent gap that Bayern stand on the high side of, the Ukrainians have one heck of a fight ahead of them if they’re going to overcome the odds and advance.
Key player - Luiz Adriano (Shakhtar)
In the first leg in Ukraine, Adriano was the only Shakhtar attacker to find any degree of success against Bayern’s defense. With a 0-0 scoreline heading in to the Allianz Arena, Adriano will again be key to Shakhtar’s chances of success, especially with Bernard out. It won’t be easy for him to find and exploit gaps in Bayern’s defense, but if anyone in this squad can, it’s him.
Key Matchup - Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern) vs. Alex Teixeira (Shakhtar)
Two box-to-box powerhouses, Schweinsteiger and Teixeira have the ability to dictate how this match proceeds. While both Bayern and Shakhtar have players who are more creative or better defenders, but in terms of driving the engine of this match, these are the two guys who will be at the heart of their sides’ efforts to win. Not many things can be guaranteed for this match, but what can be is that the winning side will have the player who wins this matchup.
Bayern Munich injuries and suspensions
Out: Phillip Lahm (ankle), Thiago Alcantara (knee), Xabi Alonso (suspension), Javi Martinez (knee) In doubt: None
Shakhtar Donetsk injuries and suspensions
Out: Bernard (ankle) In doubt: Ivan Ordets (unspecified), Serhiy Kryvtsov (unspecified)
Bayern are missing several key players, but have the depth to make up for it because their roster is ludicrously talented. Shaktar will sorely miss Bernard as the tricky midfielder gives them a lot of options going forward, but at least the two defenders who are in doubt, Shevchuk and Kryvtsov, are only rotational players.
Match Date/Time: Wednesday, 3:45 p.m. ET, 8:45 p.m. local
Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany
TV: Fox Sports 2 (U.S. - English), Fox Deportes (U.S. - Spanish), Sportsnet World (Canada), Sky Sport 1/HD, Sky Sport 2/HD (Germany), Kanal 5 Ukrania (Ukraine), Sky Sports 1/HD (U.K.)
Online: Fox Soccer 2GO (U.S.), Sportsnet World Now (Canada), Sky Go Deutschland (Germany), Sky Go (U.K.)
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