LOSC loss leaves BATE in peril

First UEFA Champions League goals for Djibril Sidibé and Gianni Bruno enabled LOSC Lille to avenge a matchday one home defeat as FC BATE Borisov lost their way in the fog in Group F.

Facing an inexperienced side, BATE were seeking a third win of the campaign that would have put the pressure on section leaders FC Bayern München and Valencia CF ahead of matchday six. As it was they received a dose of their own medicine, dominating possession but conceding twice on the break, and there was no way back despite Sidibé's dismissal on 74 minutes.

BATE won their seventh successive Belarusian title ten days ago but – among the players at least – any celebrations were over by half-time in foggy Minsk. With the first meaningful effort of the game, LOSC right-back Sidibé directed an angled strike over goalkeeper Andrei Gorbunov and into the net after 14 minutes.

Territorial advantage counted for little for the home team as Aleksandr Volodko, Edgar Olekhnovich and Vitali Rodionov snatched at chances. At the other end, Bruno had already sent one attempt high over the crossbar but sneaked into the box on 31 minutes and stretched out a boot to divert Lucas Digne's cross from the left touchline past Gorbunov.

It took until the 37th minute for Viktor Goncharenko's men to get a shot on target, and Renan Bressan's strike was no problem for Steeve Elana – one of seven changes from the LOSC side that started the 6-1 defeat at FC Bayern München on matchday four.

Rodionov had another sight of goal early in the second half, yet Marko Baša atoned for an earlier miscue with a block. Marvin Martin then put the ball past Gorbunov as BATE got into a tangle on the edge of their box, stand-in captain Artem Radkov scampering back to stop it rolling over the line.

Sidibé was sent off for a second bookable offence 16 minutes from time, but BATE were unable to find a way back into the contest. Rodionov got the ball caught between his feet in a decent position and LOSC kept coming, knowing a third goal would mean a chance to steal third place from their opponents on matchday six. As it is, Rudi Garcia's charges will not survive the European winter, while a UEFA Europa League place looks to be on the cards for BATE.