Shakhtar Donetsk vs Bayern Munich predictions: Musiala can make most of Kane’s absence
- Shakhtar Donetsk are 26th in the Champions League table
- Bayern Munich are in 13th position
- Recommended Bet: Jamal Musiala to score at any time
Shakhtar Donetsk enjoyed a 3-1 win against Vorskla at the weekend, setting themselves up for the big challenge of trying to take Champions League points from one of the competition favourites, Bayern Munich.
Bayern won 4-2 at home to Heidenheim to stay six points clear at the top of the Bundesliga and now turn their attention to making up lost ground in the race for a spot in next round of the Champions League.
Team news
Shakhtar left-back Pedro Henrique and winger Pedrinho are both suspended for this game.
Harry Kane is the headline absence for Bayern with the England striker out with a thigh injury.
Vincent Kompany will also be without the injured Manuel Neuer, Alphonso Davies, Hiroki Ito, Josip Stanisic, Joao Palhinha and Kingsley Coman.
The stats
Shakhtar have won six of their last eight games, which includes their sole Champions League win against Young Boys.
Bayern are unbeaten in four away games, winning three and drawing one.
Marino Pusic’s Shakhtar were 2-0 up in their most recent European outing away at PSV, only to concede a trio of late goals and lose 3-2.
Bayern are yet to win an away match in this competition this season, losing 1-0 at Aston Villa and 4-1 at Barcelona.
Prediction
Bayern will need to improve their away record in the Champions League if they are to progress to the latter stages, but this match will essentially take place on neutral territory.
Shakhtar’s European matches have been staged at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, which means that the visitors have a much shorter journey to make than the home side.
Bayern need to take advantage at a time when they are missing their leading scorer Kane, but when the striker came off injured in the recent 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund, Musiala stepped up to convert a late equaliser.
The 21-year-old was among the goals again at the weekend, coming off the bench to find the net twice in the 4-2 win against Heidenheim.
Musiala now has 12 goals in 19 appearances this season and can add to that impressive tally in a game in which Bayern are likely to dominate and create plenty of chances.
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