BATE vs Red Star Belgrade – Europa League Preview

BATE vs Red Star Belgrade – Europa League Preview

BATE vs Red Star, November 23, GMT 18:00/19:00CET – Borisov Arena, Borisov, Belarus.

BATE vs Red Star will take place at the Borisov Arena. (FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)

BATE vs Red Star will take place at the Borisov Arena. (FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)

It has been an unusually difficult season for BATE Borisov in the domestic Belarusian Premier League. With just one game to play, BATE are finally back on top but are closely followed by Shakhtyor Soligorsk and Dinamo Minsk. Winning their domestic league will be key for BATE, who are the most prominent Belarusian club abroad.

Things are not too different for BATE in the Europa League. Group H is dominated by Arsenal, who have collected 10 points in the first four games. Behind Arsenal, Red Star (5 points), BATE (4 points) and Köln (3 points) could all still advance. At the same time, Arsenal’s dominance could also mean that the group could be wrapped up following matchday 5.

Should Köln lose against Arsenal and Red Star Belgrade defeat BATE, then the team from Serbia will secure the second spot. But with the standings, this close everything could be possible making the group fascinating to watch. You can check potential outcomes with these bookmakers, but we believe that BATE’s recent return to the Belarusian Premier League and with the home support the Belarusians are favourite to take all three points from this game.

BATE vs Red Star – Player to look out for:

Mikhail Gordeichuk #62 – BATE

Mikhail Gordeichuk will be the primary reason should BATE manage to secure their 12th title in a row. The 28-year-old forward has scored 18 goals in 28 Belarusian Premier League games this season. Signed from Belshina three years ago Gordeichuk is technically speaking a winger but has been used at the very front at times this season.

Mikheil Gordeichuk (r.) will be BATE Borisov's key player. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Mikheil Gordeichuk (r.) will be BATE Borisov’s key player. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Mitchell Donald #20 – Red Star Belgrade

The 28-year-old struggled to make the grade at Ajax under Martin Jol but established himself in a decent three-year stint at Roda JC.  After suffering a relegation in the Russian Premier League with Mordovia two years ago he moved to Red Star, becoming an essential anchor of their midfield.  The Dutchman has a taste for yellow cards, but if he keeps his composure and is given time to feed balls to Boakye, he could be a threat.

Mitchell Donald is Red Star Belgrade's player to watch. (PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Mitchell Donald is Red Star Belgrade’s player to watch. (PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images)

BATE vs Red Star – Match Stats

  • The Serbian side will be through to the round of 32 with a victory if Köln simultaneously fail to win at home to qualified Arsenal in the other group encounter. The defeat means elimination for BATE.
  • The first competitive match between the teams, in Belgrade on matchday 1, ended in a 1-1 draw, Nemanja Radonjić’s opener for Red Star Belgrade cancelled out by Nikolai Signevich.
  • Red Star Belgrade’s only encounter with a Belarusian club before that was a high-scoring affair; they got the better of Naftan Novopolotsk in the 2012-13 UEFA Europa League second qualifying round after a 4-3 win in Belarus and a 3-3 draw at home.
  • BATE’s only other tie against Serbian opposition produced an away-goals victory against Red Star’s eternal rivals Partizan in the 2015-16 UEFA Champions League playoffs: they won 1-0 at home and lost 2-1 in Belgrade.

Futbolgrad Network Prediction: BATE vs Red Star – 2-0 

BATE vs Red Star – Possible Lineups

BATE Borisov

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Shcherbitski – Bulyat, Milunović, M. Volodyko – Dragun, Ivanic, Rios, Stasevich, A. Volodyko – Gordeichuk, Signevich

Coach: Aleksandr Yermakovich

Red Star Belgrade

Formation: 4-4-2 (diamond)

Borjan – Rodic, Babic, Le Tallec, Stojkovic – Milic, Kanga, Donald, Gobeljic – Pesic, Boakye

Coach: Vladan Milojevic

Manuel Veth is the owner and Editor in Chief of the Futbolgrad Network. He also works as a freelance journalist and social media editor at Bundesliga.com. He holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in History from King’s College London, and his thesis is titled: “Selling the People’s Game: Football’s transition from Communism to Capitalism in the Soviet Union and its Successor States,” which will be available in print soon. Originally from Munich, Manuel has lived in Amsterdam, Kyiv, Moscow, Tbilisi, London, and currently is located in Victoria BC, Canada.  Follow Manuel on Twitter @ManuelVeth.

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