Bayern Munich face Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday evening knowing that the Champions League encounter could make or break their season . Pep Guardiola 's men are 11 points clear in the Bundesliga and into the quarter-finals of the German Cup , but it 's Europe 's foremost competition that is their main priority . The Bavarians drew the first leg of this last 16 0-0 in Ukraine and start as strong favourites for the return at the Allianz Arena - but without the comfort of an away goal , they could be caught cold . Franck Ribery is slide tackled by Bastian Schweinsteiger during training as David Alaba stands by . Ribery ( right ) and Alaba share a joke as Bayern 's squad prepare for their match with Shakhtar Donetsk . Philipp Lahm shows some nifty control on the practice pitch ahead of the Champions League second leg . Bayern coach Pep Guardiola makes a point to Holger Badstuber during Tuesday 's training session . Guardiola instructs Badstuber to keep his eye on the ball during the training session . Bayern start as strong favourites to beat Shakhtar Donetsk at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night . But the squad was in good spirits as they trained at their Sabener Strasse headquarters on the eve of the game , which Guardiola has billed as the biggest of their season . 'This match is a final for us , ' the Spanish coach said after their 3-1 win at Hanover on Saturday . 'Only one thing matters and that is to win . 'We know what we have to do . They have extremely quick forwards and we can not allow them to make their runs . ' But the odds are stacked against Shakhtar , whose league season only started at the end of last month . Bayern won all their home matches in the group phase without conceding a goal . Bastian Schweinsteiger ( left ) stretches alongside team-mate Mehdi Benatia before the session . Thomas Muller and Arjen Robben share a word as they stretch off during training at Sabener Strasse . Brazilian defender Dante puts his best foot forward as Bayern get ready for the Shakhtar match . Bayern Sporting Director Matthias Sammer was an interested spectator . David Alaba tries to read the intentions of his opponent during a training ground match . Mario Gotze surges forward with the ball , leaving his colleagues in his wake . Rafinha ( left ) , Xabi Alonso ( second left ) , Bastian Schweinsteiger ( second right ) and Dante train . And they have scored a remarkable 21 goals in their last four league games , including eight against Hamburg and six at Paderborn . Shakhtar 's Romanian coach Mircea Lucescu said : 'We will be playing against a very strong club . In my opinion , Bayern are the world 's strongest football team at the moment . 'We have to respond to therir extraordinary tactical discipline with equally strong tactical discipline . Bastian Schweinsteiger keeps a close eye on the ball during a passing drill . Philipp Lahm shows some close control as he juggles the ball in training . Xabi Alonso is in the thick of things during training ahead of the match with the Ukrainian champions . Bastian Schweinsteiger slides in , attempting to win the ball . Bayern will be without Xabi Alonso , who was sent off in the first leg in Lviv . 'Their team is also superior to ours , but football does not follow logical rules . In football , anything can happen . ' Guardiola is without Xabi Alonso , who is suspended after being sent off in the first leg , but could have defender Mehdi Benatia back from injury .
Bayern play Shakhtar Donetsk in Champions League on Wednesday . The first leg in Hamburg ended goalless , with Xabi Alonso sent off . Pep Guardiola has described the second leg as like a 'final ' for Bayern . His side are dominating at home and chasing sixth European Cup triumph .