10-man Bayern Munich held to scoreless draw at Shakhtar Donetsk
LVIV, Ukraine (AP) — Xabi Alonso was sent off in his 100th Champions League game as 10-man Bayern Munich was held to a 0-0 draw by Shakhtar Donetsk in their last 16 first-leg match on Tuesday.
On a freezing night in Ukraine, Bayern had the better chances but was thwarted by determined defending from Shakhtar and some poor shooting.
Bayern played the last 25 minutes with 10 men after midfielder Alonso was red-carded, having picked up his second booking for a poor tackle on Alex Teixeira.
• WATCH: Ivanovic opens the scoring in PSG-Chelsea | Cavani equalizes
The match was played in Lviv in western Ukraine because Shakhtar has been left homeless by the conflict in the east of the country, where its home city of Donetsk is a separatist stronghold.
Q&A: Xabi Alonso on leaving Real Madrid for Bayern, playing for Pep
The result means Shakhtar will progress to the quarterfinals on the away goals rule if the second leg March 11 in Munich ends in a score draw.
Thomas Mueller had the best chances of the game for Bayern, including a scuffed shot from a good position after 11 minutes. He was fed by Franck Ribery near the penalty spot on 31 minutes, but his snatched effort went flying over the bar.
Shakhtar's Olexandr Rakitskiy had tested Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer shortly beforehand with a free-kick that the German caught but fumbled, scrambling to rescue it as Shakhtar players closed in.
That proved to be Shakhtar's only shot of a game in which the Ukrainian team created very little, despite playing most of the second half with a numerical advantage.
Bayern appealed for a penalty on 83 minutes when the ball struck the fallen Rakitskiy's arm, but the referee waved play on.
In Tuesday's other Champions League last 16 clash, Edinson Cavani salvaged a 1-1 draw for Paris Saint-Germain at home to Chelsea.
