Real Madrid and Manchester United will be the most watched match of the day, but the other tilt between Shakhtar Donetsk and Borussia Dortmund also has a series of major implications.
In their first tilt on Feb. 13, the two teams battled to a 2-2 draw in Ukraine. Shakhtar Donetsk dominated play during most of the first half and eventually scored when Darijo Srna rifled in a 31st minute free kick. Dortmund battled back and eventually tied the score at the 41st minute when Robert Lewandowski connected on a pass from Mario Götze. After the tally, Dortmund took over of the game and essentially halted the dynamic Shakhtar Donetsk offense that had been so prominent in the first half of the match. However, Shakhtar's Douglas Costa eventually scored off a volley at the 68th minute with a volley to put the Ukrainian squad back on top. Fortunately for Borussia, Mats Hummels provided the equalizer on a header late in the game.
The two away goals are significant for Borussia as the German side can play a conservative style and attempt to earn a 0-0 or 1-1 draw. Shakhtar needs a win or a tie of 3-3 or more. Look for the Ukrainian side to be aggressive throughout the match as it was in the first leg.
Goal.com projects the following starting lineups:
Shakhtar: Pyatov, Srna, Chygrynskiy, Rakitskiy, Rat, Hubschman, Fernandinho, Teixeira, Mkhitaryan, Taison, Luiz Adriano
Borussia: Weidenfeller, Piszczek, Subotic, Santana, Schmelzer, Gundogan, Bender, Blaszczykowski, Götze, Reus, Lewandowksi
Prediction: Borussia earns a 1-1 draw.
Start Time; 2:45 PM EST
TV: MSG Plus