Shakhtar v Bayern Munich preview: German champions travel to Ukraine for Champions League last-16 first leg

Bayern Munich travel to war-torn Ukraine to take on Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League last-16 first leg, and have hit form at the right time.

The German champions' dress rehearsal ahead of the trip east was a resounding success as they demolished Hamburg SV 8-0 in a flawless performance that saw Dutchman Arjen Robben continue his impressive form by scoring two goals.

Victory for Bayern, who had won just one of their previous three league games before Saturday's drubbing of Hamburg, stands Die Roten in good stead for the tie in unfamiliar surroundings.

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During the recent trouble in the country, Shakhtar have played their home game 600 miles from Donetsk in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv and have not played a competive fixture since December due to their winter break.

Team news

Bayern boss Pep Guardiola will recall midfielder Xabi Alonso for the game in Lviv after he was rested on Saturday.

Winger Franck Ribery and defender Rafinha are in contention after recovering from injuries in time to play against Hamburg.             

Jerome Boateng will also make the trip after sitting out a two-match ban in Germany.

Shakhtar will be without defensive midfielder Taras Stepanenko, who is banned, while striker Bernard is an injury concern with a ligament inflammation.

Stats

Bayern Munich’s last encounter with a Ukrainian club was in the Champions League second group stage back in 1999/00. They lost 2-0 away against Dynamo Kiev.

Shakhtar have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League for the third time after 2010/11 and 2012/13.

Shakhtar are winless in their last four Champions League knockout games (D1 L3).

Bayern have only won one of their last five Champions League knockout games (D2 L2).

Bayern have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League for the seventh consecutive campaign. They’ve made it to the final in three of the last five seasons.

Bayern's last two Champions League games away from home have produced 13 goals (7-1 v Roma, 2-3 v Manchester City).

Betting

Unsurprisingly, Bayern Munich are the odds-on favourites on the night, with Sky Bet going 4/11 on an away win, despite Shakhtar’s prowess on their own patch. The hosts are 15/2 to win and 15/4 to draw, but their chances of knocking Bayern out are even weaker at a lengthy 9/1. For those who fancy the Bundesliga champions to slip up, Sky Bet have enhanced the odds on Luiz Adriano to score in a Shakhtar win from 10/1 to 16/1.

Watch Shakhtar v Bayern live on Sky Sports 5 HD from 7.30pm on Tuesday night, or follow the game on our live blog and on Soccer Special on Sky Sports News HQ.