BATE vs. Barcelona – UEFA Champions League Match Preview
BATE will be hosting Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday. It is going to be a tough game for the Belarus side as they are going to face one of the best teams in the world.
BATE have an outstanding home record in their league. They have won 8 and 5 matches at the Haradzki Stadium. The Belarus side has not lost a single home game this season and that puts Barcelona in a tough spot.
Barcelona’s away form was simply phenomenal last season. The Spanish Champions rarely lost any games away from home and they have made sure that this form continues this season.
The European Champions have not lost a single game away from home. However, Barcelona have lost points while being away to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Valencia-c40863 are Real Sociedad. Both the fixtures ended 2-2 and Barcelona could only settle for a single point.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 are defending their European title as they get ready to play their first away fixture of the Champions League.
Barcelona faced AC Milan in the first group stage game of the UEFA Champions League. The Catalan Giants conceded an early goal but still managed to draw the game 2-2 after giving away the lead in the last minute of the game.
Barcelona are currently sitting second in La Liga while BATE are enjoying the first position in the Belarus League 1.
Team News: BATE Borisov
BATE have currently played 26 matches in their league. The http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Belarus-c2849 side have won 54 points from those 26 games. In total they have 15 games, drawn 9 and lost only 2.
Scoring 42 goals and conceding only 13 also gives them the best goal difference in the league.
BATE will have their full squad available for the fixture. The Belarus Champions are going to give their best in order to take at least a point from this difficult home fixture.
Gutor; Filipenko, Yurevich, Simic; Nekhajchik, Baga, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Renan-c30806, Volodko, Rudik; Kontsevoy; and Kezman are expected to play for BATE Borisov.
Team News: Barcelona
The Spanish and European Champions, Barcelona are finally back on track.
As the players returned from international duty, Josep Guardiola ran out of options. However, with the inclusion of two new brilliant signings in the squad, Guardiola can now play a strong side.
Barcelona drew two fixtures in the league which keeps them second in La Liga.
First, Barcelona drew 2-2 against Real Sociedad. Then Barcelona faced Valencia away from home and drew the fixture 2-2 again.
After dropping four points, Barcelona could only manage to take the second spot in La Liga.
However, the Catalan Giants were back on track after winning 8-0 against Osasuna and later managing to win 5-0 against a tough opposition like Atletico Madrid.
Barcelona are now going to face a tricky task against BATE who are going to host the Catalan Giants.
Victor Valdes, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Pedro-c29582 Rodriguez are expected to start for Barcelona.
Predictions:
Barcelona are going to be the favourites to win the European clash. BATE look to be an easy side; however, the Spanish Champions aren’t very famous for winning away games comfortably in the European group stages.
The predicted score line for this fixture is 3-0 in favour of Barcelona.
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