FC Bayern was thrown a lifeline today by surprisingly not having to face certain elimination at the hands of an Arsenal team fired up by unhinged wrath, lust for revenge and blood, the knowledge of being able to outplay us at will, and the unassailable power of the third time charm.

Instead we'll play Shakhtar aka Waxtap, a CL regular team for a decade now or so that has become well known to me over the years as consisting in one half of Ukrainians with Ukrainian names, the other half of very expensive, technically strong and fast as lightening Brazilians I've never heard of although they sound familiar as they carry the names of other more famous Brazilians.
Plus that great Croatian right back on top, who was supposed to join Bayern periodically from 2006 to ca 2011 everytime poor Philipp Lahm was supposed to switch back to the left again for lack of other options.

While we have a realistic chance here, unlike against Arsenal, and while most people would expect us to win this, I have to say I always find myself wondering whether Shakhtar isn't being eternally, if  only slightly, underrated.
A team with some sizeable CL experience, no big club fodder at all, some decent showings against Pepcelona iirc.
In between CL seasons they won the UEFA Cup. Almost eliminated Dortmund in 2013. Great coach, entertaining football from what I remember.
Yet, maybe I'm just speaking for myself, I feel they are treated more like a no name than a comparable team from a country further west would be treated.

Plus, they thrashed GOAT club BATE Borisov this group stage, who in turn handed us our arses in a 3-1 win in our treble winning season, as only one of two teams able to beat us. The other was -- Arsenal ... we've come full circle
So consider me warned, if not worried.

Fixtures:
17.2.2015 Shakhtar - Bayern
11.3.2015 Bayern - Shakhtar

Waxtap's home games at the moment are played in Lwiw, aka Lwow, since the civil war in eastern Ukraine severely damaged their home stadium, and, more generally speaking, since there's civil war in the eastern Ukraine.

Traditionally Bayern hate all clubs who have a connection to mining, that's why it would be good if we win this tie.

5-0 at home, 2-0 away.

Would be surprised if there is anything less than 4 goal margin between bayern and waxtap.

Don't think they are being underrated tbh. Bayern are the best team in the world along with Madrid. Even someone like Barcelona would be underdogs to this Bayern imo

I would tell you to stop it but I guess I was asking for that

Shakhtar are a dangerous team however I still expect Bayern to go through comfortably after getting a narrow away win with a couple of away goals first up then cruising to a misleadingly dominant 3-0 scoreline at home.

I certainly agree that to an extent they're a side that are continually underrated however the issue remains that their set piece defence lets them down year after year in Europe. Dominating Shakhtar in the air has been the get out of jail card for sides like Chelsea, Juve and Dortmund in the past whenever Shakhtar gave them a fright in all other areas in the park. Expecting Benatia to find the net at some point during this tie.

So.. it's on.

Quotes from the prematch press conference:
bla bla bla

Good news is, with Alaba, Badstuber, Rafinha and Ribery back our injury list has shrunk.
Now we're only missing Lahm, Martinez and Thiago, i.e. a complete world class midfield.

Alonso is a question mark after he had to miss the Hamburg game, but at the moment I'd prefer Schweini, who was spectacular on Saturday, to start in his place, not alongside, anyway.

Boateng can play after missing the last 2 league games with a ban.

For Shachtjor, Bernard is injured and Stepanenko banned.

I hope Shakhtar score a couple of goals in their process of going out, just to see if the players wear any undershirts with writing on them, like, "Stop the war!", "Putin OUT!", "I lurk Goallegacy!" or "See you again next year!"

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:

If you think this is a boring tie, it's no wonder really you're never satisfied with anything your team does.
The Dear Leader is hard to please.

if I am allowed to post thousand times without getting banned, I would say this tie is going to be 1000 times better than the scrub tie of Moanisea vs PSG. have to support a German team in Europe for the dominance of Bundesliga

HEIL MEIN REDS wrote:if I am allowed to post thousand times without getting banned, I would say this tie is going to be 1000 times better than the scrub tie of Moanisea vs PSG. have to support a German team in Europe for the dominance of Bundesliga

In terms of what, one-sidedness? Then sure. Most football fans enjoy seeing competitive games, though, so I'm sure they'll enjoy Chelsea v PSG more.

Oh, and this will be a riot. 5-0 incoming.

Shakhtar got this.

no mate, you are really underrating Shakhtar. If their coach gets it tactically right, it would be an awesome game for a neutral. I have seen them suffer against a compact team, but if you are going to attack them like Bayern do, you are inviting trouble. That is not to say, Bayern wont win but I fully expect Shakhtar to defend nicely and score 1-2. I think they have Adriano, Costa and that player Texeira can cause them trouble. We will see that today evening.

Chelsea and PSG, are just two big names, am telling you that match is going to be boring.

its interesting that someone even bothered to open a thread for this game.....i thought Bayern fans would wake up only before quarter final draw.....

I don't think we'll get to the quarters this time.

Hans pls

Line up FCB / Aufstellung:
Neuer - Alonso, Ribéry, Robben, Rafinha, Boateng, Bernat, Götze, Müller, Alaba, Schweinsteiger.
^M.Hörwick

— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) 17. Februar 2015

Substitutes / Einwechselspieler:
Reina, Starke - Dante, Lewandowski, Rode, Badstuber, Weiser.
Kick off/Anstoß: 20.45 hrs
TV: live auf sky

— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) 17. Februar 2015

Only Boateng as CB :rolf:
Pep

Benatia not in the squad do to muscle problems.

People who care about football will watch this game, not the boring plastic standoff

I can only imagine what Dante and Badstuber are thinking atm

i will never take shkhtar seriously again if they don't score

Dante, sadly, is not first choice anymore, while Badstuber was injured for 2 years, with a short break, and started for the first time on the weekend.

Who cares man, at least they are cbs lol last time pep played with 1 CB he got knocked out by chelsea

Nah it's ok, Alaba and Rafinha have played in a three man defense before.
Alaba has developed an unique way of playing CB for Pep, he's playing CB, central and attacking midfielder at the same time.

Pep already lost hope in Lewa

Reus incoming...........

Luiz Adriano is this tournaments top scorer apparently but I can't see him score against this Bayern team. Not only has he added Xabi but he is playing alongside Shweini, those two togetger will boss that midfield. Feel sorry for Shaktar. Please pray for them guys

2 goalkeepers on the bench just cuz

These Bayern jerseys are too nice.

CL

no GL chat

am cry