Ukrainian side FC Shakhtar Donetsk go head to head with German giants Bayern next week in the Champions League. Bayern has some work to do if they want to earn automatic promotion out of the League phase as the club currently sits 13th on the table. Meanwhile, Shakhtar Donetsk will look to build off their “home” victory over Young Boys. Continue reading for an expert Shakhtar Donetsk vs Bayern Munich prediction and explore Shakhtar Donetsk news and stats for 2024.
- UEFA Champions League
- League phase
- FC Shakhtar Donetsk vs Bayern Munich
- December 10, 2024
- 3 PM EST
- VELTINS-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- Paramount+
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Bayern Munich Prediction: Who do Sportsbooks Favor?
Bayern are tabbed as prohibitive favorites to take care of business on their home soil and earn their 4th win in the Champions League this season. A whopping price tag of (-800) is found next to their name on top online sportsbooks. The “hosts” are 18:1 underdogs to win in 90 minutes. A draw is not likely either; it is lined at (+830).
Want to better understand the 3-way moneyline (1X2) market? See our soccer betting tips and learn about Champions League betting odds.
Shakhtar Donetsk Playing UCL Home Games in Germany
Shakhtar Donetsk are designated as the hosts next week, but this match will take place on German soil due to the Russian-Ukrainian war. So VELTINS-Arena is the temporary home for Shakhtar Donetsk, albeit the crowd is very likely to be pro-Bayern. This unfortunate situation did not dissuade Shakhtar Donetsk in their last home matchup in the Champions League. That was a 2-1 win over Young Boys.
In fact, Shakhtar Donetsk has not played in Donetsk for quite some time, and likely will not do so anytime soon. Forced to move to Lviv, Kharkiv and Kyiv since the war in Bonbas in 2014, the club has embraced a somewhat nomadic lifestyle. They have expectations of European success as well, despite their roots in Ukraine. A UEFA Cup victory in 2009 was the first by a club from independent Ukraine.
Last Sunday was a disappointing outing for Shakhtar Donetsk. Looking to bounce back from their defeat to PSV midweek, a late equalizer from Roman Didyk forced a 1-1 draw against Rukh Vynnyky. Only managing to secure 1 point against a 7th-ranked side at home is not exactly a beacon of hope for a team with aspirations of European glory.
Jury is Still Out on Vincent Kompany: Bayern Munich Predictions Vary
Vincent Kompany began his career at Bayern Munich with a bang. A 9-2 victory over Dinamo Zagreb in the opener of Bayern’s Champions League campaign gave fans reason to believe in their new Belgian manager. And a near-perfect start to their Bundesliga title hopes certainly added fuel to the fire. Indeed, Bayern are undefeated through 12 matches to start the new term.
But back-to-back defeats in UCL followed their auspicious European curtain-raiser. Now sitting in 13th and recently booted from DfB-Pokal by rivals Leverkusen, the jury remains out on Kompany’s ability to lead the club. It was this Bayern club that so hurriedly drove Thomas Tuchel out despite taking the side to the semifinals of the Champions League. Kompany deserves a longer leash than his predecessor, in my opinion.
Kompany’s tactics take time to train and mold into the instincts of his clubs. He took Burnley to the Premier League with an offensive-minded approach. After the club introduced more talent at the top flight, it was understood that it would take months for these fresh faces to become acclimated to Kompany’s Guardiola-inspired stylings.
As Bayern supporters begin to whisper concerns, all it will take to quell doubts is another big performance. Back-to-back victories over PSG and Benfica certainly help. A blowout next week could restore faith in a trophy-winning season for Bayern, who were left wanting for silverware for the first time since 2012 last year.
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Bayern Munich Prediction and Free Pick
Bayern’s loss to Leverkusen this midweek will surely galvanize this side. With only two competitions remaining to earn a trophy, and still sitting midtable in the Champions League, the urgency to win is clear. Goal difference could play a big role in this new format as well. Earning another big victory, like they did against Dinamo Zagreb, should be the main objective.
It certainly helps that this match is a pseudo-home game for Bayern, giving them an extra opportunity to play in Germany. As the country’s most popular side, they are sure to be received warmly by the home crowd. And while they have struggled against top European sides like Aston Villa, Barcelona, and Leverkusen, Bayern have dominated lower-tier opponents. These are their scorelines against lesser-quality opponents recently: 3-0, 1-0, 3-0, 4-0, 5-0, 4-0, 5-0, 9-2, and 6-1.
This should be a squash match for the Bavarians. The line is moving quickly, so I recommend taking a wager on Bayern to win by over 2 goals now. I could see this price flipping by matchday. Go with Bayern -2.5 at (+113), currently available at BetUS.
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