BATE eager to get off the mark

Posted Thursday, October 22, 2009 by PA

Hosts BATE Borisov are looking to register their first point in Europa League Group I when they host Greek side AEK Athens.

Belarussian champions Borisov have been on the wrong end of successive defeats in the competition and must turn the tide against Dusan Bajevic's side if they are to harbour any hopes of making the next stage.

Having succumbed 2-0 in Benfica they managed to put up a better showing in their first home fixture in the competition, going down fighting in a 2-1 reverse at the hands of Premier League side Everton.

But a further improvement is still required against AEK.

Reflecting on his team's chances of progressing from Group I, Viktor Goncharenko said: "We are not in a good position now but anything can happen in football. We will do our best in the remaining matches."

AEK recovered from a humbling at the hands of Everton in their opening match, shipping four goals without response, to beat Benfica 1-0 at the Olympic Stadium.

Borisov are currently playing European fixtures at the Dinamo Stadium in Minsk as their own ground, the Gorodskoi Stadium, has a capacity of just 5,402.

It is a tactic that has yet to pay off, with Goncharenko's side mustering only a single draw alongside six defeats at the venue.

By stark contrast they have lost only once in their previous nine outings at Gorodskoi.

Their hopes this time are buoyed both by winning a fourth successive title since their last Europa League match - securing the title with a 4-0 triumph - and by AEK's modest record on the road.

The defeat at Everton's Goodison Park last month meant that in their last 12 away matches in Europe, the Super League side have tasted victory only once.