Our prediction for this Champions League match:
BATE Borisov
Match Time & Date:
25/07/2018
01:00 PM
Prediction: 2-1
HJK
After eliminating Vikingur in the first qualifying round, Helsinki will be looking to give fans yet another reason for celebration when they face BATE Borisov in the Champions League, round 2. The Belarusian champions are leading the chase for the domestic title, but they aim to record a good result in the Champions League as well. Belarus attacker Nikolay Signevich, who has netted five goals so far this term, is likely to pose a big threat for the opposition defenders. Helsinki did well to beat the Iceland champions in the first qualifying round, but they face an uphill task in Wednesday’s football match against BATE and we do not believe that they are capable of shocking the Belarusian champions, who have turned their BATE Borisov into a real fortress. It has to be noted that the two teams meet for the first time ever in European competitions.
Highlighted Player (Egor Filipenko):
Egor Filipenko is a Maccabi Tel Aviv defender who was born in Minsk, Belarus on 10 April, 1988. He began his senior career at BATE Borisov, but his main goal was to join Russian Premier League. His wish came true in 2008 as he signed a contract with Russian giants Spartak Moscow.
After playing 16 league games for the capital club, he returned to BATE Borisov in 2011 on loan and he eventually signed a permanent deal with the Belarusian outfit. On 5 January, 2015 Filipenko joined la Liga side Malaga on a two-and-a-half-year deal, but he made no more than eight league appearances with los Boquerones. In the summer of 2016 the Belarusian footballer moved to Israel, signing a contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Speaking of his international career, Egor Filipenko made his Belarus debut on 12 September, 2007, coming as a substitute in a 1-0 loss to Slovenia in the Euro 2008 qualifier. His contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv expires on 30 June, 2018.
Highlighted Team (BATE Borisov):
Bate Borisov are a Belarusian club based in Borisov. BATE is an acronym of Borisov Automobile and Tractor Electronics and it has to be noted that club was founded in 1973. One year later BATE Borisov wan Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic title and they won two more trophies in the competition (1976, 1979) before being disbanded in 1984.
In 1996 the club was re-established and they have been dominating the Belarusian Premier League ever since. The Belarusian giants won their 13th domestic trophy in the post-Soviet era in 2016, with the team finishing the season 11 points clear of second-placed Shakhtyor Soligorsk. BATE Borisov qualified for the Champions League group stages for the first time in the 2008/2009 season, but they failed to make it to the knockout stages of the elite competition.
A number of top-class footballers played for the club in the past and the likes of Alexander Hleb, Vitali Kutuzov and Yuri Zhevnon should be mentioned. BATE play their home games in blue shirts and blue shorts, while they wear yellow when playing on the road.
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