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| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
BATE BORISOV  Gutor Baga, Simic, Yurevich, Bordachev Volodko, Bressan, Kontosevoi, Olekhnovich Rudik Kezman | VIKTORIA PLZEN  Pavlik Limbersky, Bystron, Sevinsky, Rajtoral Petrzela, Jiracek, Horvath, Kolar, Pilar Bakos |
BATE Borisov boss Viktor Goncharenko has a few selection issues heading into the match. Defender Yegor Filipenko is likely to miss the rest of the group stage after injuring his back on international duty with Belarus against Romania in October.
Striker Vitali Rodionov will be out of action until at least April after rupturing knee ligaments at the end of August. Defender Evgeni Kuntsevich underwent knee surgery in the summer and has his sights set on a new year return.
Viktoria Plzen stopper David Limbersky had been missing since 6 November with a thigh injury but was passed fit to start his side's 3-2 win against Mlada Boleslav on Saturday.
Goalkeeper Marek Cech has not seen action since matchday three when he suffered a knee injury. However, he did manage to make the substitutes bench in the same win at the weekend. Marian Cisovsky is suspended for this match, having been sent off in matchday four.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- The previous encounter between BATE Borisov and Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League group stage ended in a 1-1 draw in Prague, and was the first time in history the sides had met.
The two teams are battling one another for a Europa League spot, as both AC Milan and Barcelona have already achieved qualification for the Champions League knockout stage.
- BATE have lost only one out of five European home games this season, and it came at the hands of Barcelona in a 5-0 defeat.
- Viktoria Plzen's only Champions League point to date came courtesy of their draw with BATE in the previous encounter in this group.
- Plzen have lost both of their away matches 2-0 in the section, against AC Milan and Barcelona, but won all their away matches in the qualifying rounds.
- Along with Villarreal, Genk and Dinamo Zagreb, BATE Borisov and Viktoria Plzen have conceded the joint highest amount of goals in the competition, with each team having shipped nine so far.
Prediction
The last match in Prague was a tight affair, with the score eventually ending 1-1. If BATE win then they will continue playing European football this season, but if Viktoria Plzen collect the spoils they go ahead of the Belarusian side in the race for the Europa League position. A draw, however, may be the outcome once again.
Editor's Prediction
BATE 2-2 FC Viktoria Plzeň 
