Partizan v BATE Borisov background
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Article summary
Partizan lost 1-0 in Belarus with ten men in the first leg yet have cause for optimism as they try to get the better of BATE Borisov in their UEFA Champions League play-off.
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Partizan have cause for optimism as they take on BATE Borisov, the Serbian side needing to overturn a one-goal deficit to make it to the UEFA Champions League group stage.
Previous meetings
• Mikhail Gordeichuk's 75th-minute header gave BATE a 1-0 play-off first-leg win in Belarus, though it might have been worse for Partizan who had Marko Jevtović dismissed just before the interval. It was Partizan's 100th UEFA Champions League game.
• The teams are meeting for the first time in UEFA competition, neither having previously tackled a club from their opponents' country.
• Serbian sides have had marginally the better of the seven matches between the nations' clubs in UEFA competition with the record W3 D2 L2. The Serbian representatives have won the last two such two-legged ties.
Form guide
• Partizan have won both of their home games this season, and five of their last six home fixtures in UEFA qualifying competition. They are unbeaten in four UEFA Champions League qualifying home matches (W3 D1).
• BATE are winless in 12 UEFA away games (D4 L8) though they have drawn both of their matches on the road in qualifying this term. They are unbeaten in five European fixtures this campaign (W3 D2).
• BATE have won all three of their UEFA Champions League play-off ties to date.
• This is Partizan's first UEFA Champions League play-off since they saw off Anderlecht on penalties after two 2-2 draws to make the 2011/12 group stage.
Links and trivia
• The first leg was Partizan's 100th game in the UEFA Champions League and European Champion Clubs' Cup.
• Partizan midfielder Saša Ilić will reach 50 UEFA Champions League appearances if he features in Belgrade.
• BATE have two Serbian players – left-back Filip Mladenović and midfielder Nemanja Milunović – while their Montenegrin midfielder Nemanja Nikolić also has Serbian league experience.
• Mladenovic played for Borac Čačak (2010–12) and Crvena zvezda (2012–14); Milunović represented Borac Čačak (2008) and Mladost Lučani (2009–14); Nikolić was at Crvena zvezda (2008–10), Spartak Subotica (2010–11) and OFK Beograd (2011–13).
• Former Partizan player and coach Vuk Rašović is currently in charge of BATE's main domestic rivals, Dinamo Minsk. He was previously the club's sporting director.
