5 Bold Predictions for Bayern Munich's Champions League 2nd Leg with Shakhtar
Well it didn't exactly go to plan, did it? One red card and no goals on a cold, February night in Lviv, Ukraine now means that Bayern Munich travel back to Germany with nothing but a 0-0 draw after a rather timid clash with Shakhtar Donetsk.
Pep Guardiola will be far from happy with what he saw from his side on Tuesday night with tempo, technique and discipline all but abandoning them throughout the match. Bayern looked second rate and as such deserved no more but a draw from their first leg.
Yet, fortunately for the German champions, a second leg at the Allianz Arena awaits them and offers an opportunity to rectify a turgid affair from the opening game.
Shakhtar travel to Munich next month and can expect a number of factors to change between now and then.
Robert Lewandowski Will Prove More Useful Up Front
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Bayern looked far too blunt up front on Tuesday night and much of that was down to the fact that Guardiola opted for Thomas Muller as his lone striker rather than Robert Lewandowski.
Although the Polish international has been far from his best in Munich this season, the striker is easily Bayern's most consistent goalscorer and often thrives under pressure in the Champions League.
Come the second leg at the Allianz Arena we reckon Lewandowski will start up front and be looking to score as many goals as he can.
Sebastian Rode Will Fill in Well for Xabi Alonso
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Although a goalless draw away from home is never a bad result in the Champions League, Guardiola will be absolutely furious at the manner in which Xabi Alonso managed to get himself sent off.
The former Spanish international has been a linchpin in Bayern's injury-ridden midfield all season and will be sorely missed for the second leg. Yet, fortunately, Guardiola does have an able replacement in Sebastian Rode.
The 24-year-old midfielder has actually spent most of this season filling in at right-back, yet Rode truly thrives in his more natural role as a defensive midfielder. Expect a very natural performance from the young German beside Bastian Schweinsteiger in the coming match.
Bayern Will Win by a Large Margin
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Okay, the 0-0 in Ukraine was hardly the most useful result that Bayern could have picked up on the road but worry not fans of the Bavarian giants; Guardiola's side will surely get what they need in the corresponding fixture in Munich.
Bayern have actually looked a little vulnerable at away grounds in the Champions League all season. Sure, they thumped Roma 7-1 but prior to that they only just managed to squeeze past CSKA Moscow and the final trip of their group saw them lose in Manchester by three goals to two.
Regardless, Bayern have always been rather dominant in front of their own fans and will surely fancy their chances at overcoming such a result from the first leg.
Mehdi Benatia Shores Up the Bayern Defence
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One of the major problems with Bayern's setup against Shakhtar was the late omission of Mehdi Benatia, meaning Guardiola had to quickly switch from a steady back four to a back three and play David Alaba, Rafinha and Jerome Boateng together.
Although Shakhtar never really threatened Bayern's goal, the entire team was still off-centre and didn't look like their old selves.
With Benatia back in the side for the second leg we can be sure Guardiola will have his proper formation set up and have the team back to their best.
Shakhtar Will Look Even Better
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Although most of this slideshow has suggested that Bayern will undoubtedly come out of the second leg with a comfortable victory, we must also acknowledge that Shakhtar will also look much better in the return leg.
The Ukrainian giants have of course just returned from a winter break and despite holding Bayern to a goalless draw were a little untested and grouchy as well.
Mircea Lucescu is a wily old fox and will be over the moon with his side's first-leg performance. However, come March 11 he'll be expecting an even stronger game from his players.
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