Shakhtar Donetsk will be close to full strength when they take on FC Bayern at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday evening. The only regular missing for the Ukrainian champions is Bernard (ankle), with long-term injury also ruling out Marcio Azevedo and Ismaily, although the striker is not generally first choice. Alex Texeira missed the club’s previous league match with a stomach upset but is fit again, while defensive midfielder Taras Stepanenko returns from suspension.
Coach Mircea Lucescu has brought a 21-strong squad to Munich, where Shakhtar arrived a day earlier than normal practice on Monday. The team currently lying second in the Ukrainian top flight, seven points off leaders Dynamo Kyiv, completed their pre-match training session at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday evening. Before that, Lucescu and Stepanenko addressed a press conference at the stadium.
Mircea Lucescu: “Bayern Munich are one of the best teams in Europe, a team of the highest quality. They play at the highest level and their football is genuinely good to watch. Guardiola is doing a really impressive job here in Munich. But in football the best team doesn’t always win. We’ll try and give the best possible account of ourselves tomorrow.”
Taras Stepanenko: “It’s an honour for every player to have the opportunity to play at this great stadium. We have great respect for Bayern, but we’ve come here in search of a positive result. We’ll give it our best shot.”
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