Our prediction for this Europa League match:
MOL Vidi
Match Time & Date:
20/09/2018
12:55 PM
Prediction: 2-0
BATE Borisov
Despite producing thrilling displays in the Champions League qualifiers, Vidi eventually failed to book their place in the group stages of the elite competition. Serbian tactician Marko Nikolic is doing a great job with the Hungarian side and they are definitely capable of making life difficult for BATE Borisov in their Europa League opener. Serbian duo Danko Lazovic – Marko Scepovic should be deployed up front and seeing that BATE are not regarded as good travelers, we are tempted to put our money on the Hungarian side. The Belarusians suffered a heavy 6-0 loss to Arsenal at Emirates Stadium in their last away game in the Europa League, which is yet another reason why home win should be considered. When the two teams met in the Champions League three years ago BATE recorded a hard-fought 1-0 win over Vidi, meaning that the hosts are hungry for revenge.
Highlighted Player (Armin Hodzic):
Armin Hodzic is Bosnia and Herzegovina international who plays for Hungarian side MOL Vidi as a forward. Hodzic is a product of Liverpool football academy, but he did not see any game action for the Reds first team in the Premier League. In 2012 he was loaned to Bosnian side Zeljeznicar and after scoring 18 goals in 45 appearances for the capital club, Hodzic moved to Dinamo Zagreb.
Hodzic won three domestic trophies with the Modri before joining MOL Vidi in 2018. Speaking of his international career, Armin Hodzic made his Bosnia and Herzegovina debut on May 29, 2016 in a friendly against Spain. The Balkan Dragons were beaten by la Roja 3-1 that day.
Armin Hodzic’s main position is centre-forward, but he plays as both second striker and left winger as well. The MOL vidi attacker doesn’t have a preferred foot. The Bosnian attacker was born in Sarajevo on November 17, 1994.
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.
