FC Shakhtar Donetsk vs BATE Borisov preview - BATE in fighting mood

Posted Wednesday, November 05, 2014 by PA

BATE Borisov midfielder Yevgeniy Yablonskiy admits his team-mates are ready for a fight as they look to avenge last month's humiliating home defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk when the sides meet again in Lviv on Wednesday night.

Records tumbled in the Borisov Arena in Belarus as Shakhtar racked up a 7-0 victory in Champions League Group H, with Luiz Adriano scoring five goals including a hat-trick within 13 minutes.

It was the Ukrainian club's biggest win in UEFA club competition, and BATE's heaviest defeat, but Yablonskiy believes his team can put things right in the return match on Tuesday.

"We're in a good mood, I would even say a fighting one," the 19-year-old midfielder told BATE's official website.

"Everyone is looking forward to the game. There is no fear as we believe the match in Lviv will be different. I hope we can play to our strengths and show some good football.

"Shakhtar need no special introduction. They are a very formidable opponent and have a very balanced team. That makes it difficult for us but at the same time it's an interesting challenge.

"All of us understand how hard the match in Lviv will be. But it is necessary for us to redeem ourselves after a painful defeat at home and to show we did not deserve such a result. We will try to fight Shakhtar and we will play to win."

It was the second such humiliation for BATE, having also been hammered 6-0 at Porto in their Group H opener.

Those two routs sandwich a victory over Athletic Bilbao which has at least kept the Belarusians in touch with the top two, with Porto leading the way by two points over Shakhtar.

Expectations are high among Shakhtar fans as a result of the victory two weeks ago, but coach Mircea Lucescu is wary of wounded opponents and has called on his club's supporters to throw their weight behind the team - even though they continue to play away from Donetsk as a result of conflict in the area.

"The stadium should be filled to the rafters and we need the help of the public," he told Ukrayinska Pravda.

"We are all Ukrainian football, regardless of where we play.

"This is the Champions League, it is a very important game. But it will be a difficult game. Each game has its own story and we will play a team who are united and distraught at losing at home.

"We have to approach this match seriously and with complete concentration. We cannot listen to all the hype about expected results. This will only make my players relax and lose their focus."