Shakhtar Donetsk vs Bayern Munich: Champions League Clash Preview and How to Watch

Shakhtar Donetsk and Bayern Munich are set to face off in a crucial UEFA Champions League match on Tuesday, December 10, at the VELTINS-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. This high-stakes encounter is part of the Champions League group stage, with significant implications for both teams’ chances of advancing to the knockout phase.

Shakhtar Donetsk, despite their dominance in Ukrainian football, having won the league title twice consecutively and six times in the last eight seasons, are currently struggling in the Champions League. They sit in 26th place with just four points from their first five games, having recently lost 3-2 to PSV Eindhoven after leading 2-0 until the 87th minute. Domestically, Shakhtar are in third place, trailing league leaders Dynamo Kyiv by four points.

Bayern Munich, on the other hand, are performing strongly in the Bundesliga, leading the table with 33 points and a six-point cushion over second-placed Eintracht Frankfurt. However, their Champions League campaign has been mixed. After defeats away to Aston Villa and Barcelona, Bayern secured important 1-0 victories over Benfica and Paris Saint-Germain, placing them 13th in the table and just one point outside the top eight. Bayern’s goal is to finish among the top eight, and they aim to win their remaining games to secure automatic qualification to the last 16.

The match will be played without several key players for both teams. Shakhtar Donetsk will be missing Pedro Henrique due to a suspension, while Bayern Munich will be without Manuel Neuer, Alphonso Davies, Kingsley Coman, Harry Kane, Serge Gnabry, João Palhinha, Hiroki Ito, and Josip Stanišić due to various injuries.

The game is scheduled to kick off at 3:00 PM ET (12:00 PM PT) in the United States and can be watched live on Paramount+ and ViX. For viewers abroad, a virtual private network (VPN) may be necessary to access these streaming services.

Bayern Munich is favored to win, given their recent form and the depth of their squad. However, Shakhtar Donetsk, with their technically skilled players and mix of young talent and experienced veterans, could pose a significant challenge. Bayern’s coach, Vincent Kompany, has expressed respect for Shakhtar and emphasized the importance of approaching the game with the same intensity as any other match.