Football: BATE ready for uphill task in Holland
Former Arsenal star Alex Hleb in training with BATE team-mates ahead of clash with PSV Eindhoven. Photo: fcbate.by
Preparations are in full swing for the Belarus champions BATE Borisov's second leg clash with PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League play-off stage on 29 August. The kick-off is 2100 CET at the Philips Stadium, capable to accommodate 35 000 fans. In the first leg in Belarus at Borisov Arena, PSV beat BATE 3-2. In order to advance to the Champions League groupe stage, BATE need to score at least two goals and do not concede - the job rather undoable.
BATE manager Aliaksei Baha hopes for a positive result in Eindhoven. "Professionalism of our boys gives hope," he said in Eihndhoven at the pre-match press conference. Slanislau Drahun even revealed their 'win plan': to score a quick goal and then add a second in the end of the match. "I think it should be enough," Drahun noted.
Meanwhile, Pressball has calculated that if BATE sensationally knock out PSV, the Belarusian side will earn at least 15 million euros. In the case of failure, BATE will get almost 8 million euros and can earn more playing in the Europa League group stage.
