Tuesday, September 27, 2011

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28.09. (Wed) 20:45 BATE - Barcelona

Lionel Messi and Cesc Fabregas, Barcelona
Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS

BATE BORISOV

Gutor
Baga, Simic, Filipenko, Bordachev
Volodko, Bressan, Gordeichuk, Olekhnovich,
Rudik,  Kezman
BARCELONA


Victor Valdes
Alves, Puyol, Pique, Abidal
Keita, Busquets, Xavi
Pedro, Messi, Villa
Dmitri Likhtarovich recently returned to action after five weeks out with a muscular problem and may be in contention for a starting place. Vitali Rodionov and Evgeni Kuntsevich are long term absentees with knee injuries and will not return until after the new year. Aleksandr Pavlov is also out, while Aleksandr Yurevich is also sidelined after tearing ankle ligaments.
Gerard Pique returned to action against Atletico Madrid at the weekend after recovering from a calf injury and may be in contention to partner Carles Puyol at the back, who also recently returned from a long-term spell on the sidelines.
Andres Iniesta has not featured for Barcelona since tearing his hamstring in the last Champions League match against AC Milan and is still a few weeks from returning to action. Ibrahim Afellay will be sidelined until after the new year after rupturing knee ligaments in training and Alexis Sanchez is still a long way from returning to action after injuring his hamstring against Real Sociedad earlier this month.
DID YOU KNOW?

  • This is the first match in history between the two sides.
  • BATE Borisov were in the Champions League group stage with Barcelona's great rivals, Real Madrid, in the 2008-2009 campaign. They lost both their home and away encounters.
  • The hosts go into the match looking for their first ever home win in the Champions League proper.
  • Barcelona have never played a competitive game in Belarus before.
  • Eric Abidal scored an own goal the last time he played in BATE's stadium, during a 1-1 draw between Belarus and France in Euro 2012 qualification.
  • Barcelona will be facing an old nemesis in the match. Mateja Kezman was in the Chelsea side who knocked out the Catalan outfit in the last 16 round of the 2004-05 Champions League campaign.
Prediction
The hosts have never won a home match in the Champions League proper and so have their work cut out for them when the European Champions come to visit. Pep Guardiola recently saw his two best defenders return from injury and this may galvanise his side into pulling out a solid and professional performance from Barcelona. The Barca boss will want to get the win in the bag and head straight home. Don't expect a spectacular performance, just one that does the job.
Editor's Prediction
BATE 0-2 Barcelona