Unburdened BATE ready for Barcelona

• Aleksandr Yermakovich believes BATE can get a result against Barcelona
• Coach hopeful of improving on 2011/12 defeats by Blaugrana
• BATE crowned Belarusian champions for tenth successive season on Friday
• Key pair Aleksandr Hleb and Vitali Rodionov miss out for BATE
• The Borisov outfit stunned Roma 3-2 on matchday two

Possible lineup
BATE: Chernik; Olekhnovich, Polyakov, Milunović, Mladenović; Aleksievich, Nikolić, A Volodko, Stasevich; Gordeichuk, Signevich.
Out: Rodionov (knee), Zhavnerchik (foot), Hleb (hip), Dubra (hip)

Barcelona: Bravo; Alves, Piqué, Mascherano, Jordi Alba; Busquets, Rakitić, Sergi Roberto; Neymar, Luis Suárez, Sandro.
Out: Iniesta (hamstring), Messi (knee), Rafinha (knee)

Aleksandr Yermakovich, BATE coach
Four years ago we played against Barcelona but overloaded the team with tactical details. We gave a lot of information to our players but it did not help as we suffered two big defeats [5-0 and 4-0].

Given that negative experience, this time we have decided to limit ourselves to the minimum [tactical briefing]. Barcelona will miss two leaders in Lionel Messi and Andrés Iniesta. They are outstanding players, but their whole team consists of top players. So in any case we face a very difficult task.

On Friday we became Belarusian champions, but now we have a different competition and a different strategy. We play totally differently in the Champions League. Our team can feel the big-game excitement, probably the whole of Belarus can feel it.

The responsibility is great and we have to play well and show our best. Unfortunately, we definitely cannot rely on Aleksandr Hleb, Vitali Rodionov, Maksim Zhavnerchik and Kaspars Dubra. To be successful we need a combination of many factors. If we want to win, everyone must play at their best. We believe we can do it.

Neymar hit four at the weekend©Getty Images

Luis Enrique, Barcelona coach
Given the standard of the competition, there are no favourites in games like these. Everyone can match everyone else. BATE have won the Belarusian league for the tenth time in a row, which shows their domestic dominance. We are group leaders but BATE are just one point behind.

We don't anticipate an easy game. Four years ago Barcelona beat BATE twice but a lot of things have changed since. Just look at Borisov's first half against Roma – that was impressive.

We have conceded quite a lot of goals recently, but not many have been the result of bad mistakes. Our opponents have been lucky.

BATE lifted the title on Friday©Pressball

Weekend results
Vitebsk 0-2 BATE (Rios 25, Mozolevski 31)
BATE wrapped up their tenth consecutive Belarusian title on Friday with three games to spare thanks to a routine win at lowly Vitebsk. Aleksei Rios and Dmitri Mozolevski scored in the first 31 minutes to ensure the visitors maintained their unbeaten record on the road before the celebrations began.

Barcelona 5-2 Rayo Vallecano (Neymar 22pen 32pen 69 70, Suárez 77; Guerra 15, Jozabed 86)
Neymar hit four for Barcelona to ensure they came from behind to join Real Madrid at the Saturday-night Liga summit. Javi Guerro did give Rayo the lead but Neymar converted two penalties to put Barcelona ahead at half-time. In the second half Luis Suárez twice set up Neymar before adding the fifth himself, ahead of a late consolation for the visitors.

Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)
BATE: WDWWWL
Barcelona: WLWWLW

Reporter's view: Denis Orlov
No one doubts that Barcelona are big favourites and it will be a sensation if they drop points in Borisov. However, BATE showed their capacity for surprise in beating Roma so anything could happen in this match, especially in the absence of Messi. BATE hope to build on their positive emotions after winning a tenth straight league crown on Friday.

Did you know? 
Barcelona fired nine goals past BATE when the clubs met in the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League group stage; find out more in our extensive match background.