BATE vs Partizani Tiranë

Match Preview

By PenaltiaPublished 3 years ago • 3 min read

The highly anticipated clash between BATE Borisov and Partizani Tirana in the second leg of the Champions League qualifying round will determine which team secures a spot in the second round. The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw in the Albanian capital, leaving the tie finely poised and the outcome uncertain.

BATE Borisov is returning to Champions League qualifying after a two-year absence since the 2019-20 season, during which they reached the second round. In their previous qualifying campaign, they achieved a convincing 3-1 aggregate win over Piast Gliwice in the first round but were ultimately defeated by Norwegian side Rosenborg.

Under the guidance of manager Kirill Alshevsky, BATE Borisov has been in good form, currently sitting in fourth place in their domestic league and enjoying a four-game unbeaten run leading up to the crucial encounter on Tuesday. This positive momentum will serve as a confidence boost for the team.

Despite being the designated hosts for the second leg, BATE Borisov will not play at their home ground due to UEFA sanctions related to Belarus' support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The match will instead be held at a neutral venue in Hungary. However, BATE can draw inspiration from their impressive record in first-round ties, having won their last three qualifying matches in the Champions League since their elimination by Bohemians in 2003.

Partizani Tirana, on the other hand, earned their place in Champions League qualifying by becoming champions of Albania in the previous season. While BATE Borisov is already in the middle of their campaign, the first leg represented the opening game of Partizani's 2023-24 season. They are eager to avoid a repeat of their recent qualifying tie against Qarabag in 2019, where they drew the home leg but suffered a 2-0 defeat in Azerbaijan.

Partizani enters the second leg on an unbeaten streak, which they extended with the draw in the first leg. They have been undefeated in their last nine competitive games and will strive to maintain this impressive record when they face BATE Borisov on Tuesday.

Both teams have seen notable contributions from their new signings. Ruslan Khadarkevich, who made his debut for BATE Borisov last weekend, may retain his place in the starting lineup alongside Dmitry Antilevsky, who made a strong impact by scoring in his first appearance in Champions League qualifying. Partizani's new signing, Adnard Mehmeti, is also expected to feature again after making his debut in the first leg.

Partizani's head coach, Zoran Zekic, may opt for an unchanged lineup, aiming for consistency and continuity in their performance. Tedi Cara, a 23-year-old forward, will be a key figure in Partizani's attack as he aims to continue his scoring form and find the back of the net for the third consecutive game.

Potential Starting Lineups:

BATE Borisov:

Kudravets; Nechaev, Khadarkevich, Bane, Jimoh; Gromyko, Bocherov, Grechikho; Malkevich, Kontsevoy, Antilevski

Partizani Tirana:

Qirko; Hadroj, Sota, Sembene, Atanaskovski; Rrapaj, Mehmeti, Murataj; Victor, Cara, Mba

With the first leg providing an intense and closely contested match, we anticipate a similarly competitive encounter on Tuesday. However, considering BATE Borisov's recent success in progressing from first-round ties and their desire to advance further, we predict that they will have the edge over Partizani and secure a place in the next stage of the competition.

In what promises to be a highly anticipated showdown, BATE Borisov and Partizani Tirana will battle it out on Tuesday for a place in the second round of Champions League qualifying. The finely poised first-round qualifying tie ended in a 1-1 draw in the Albanian capital. BATE Borisov will draw confidence from their past successes, while Partizani seeks to maintain their unbeaten streak. The match, held at a neutral venue in Hungary due to UEFA sanctions, will see both teams fielding strong lineups, with BATE's Antilevsky and Partizani's Cara aiming to make their mark once again.