BATE Borisov vs Lille preview - Goncharenko promises focus

BATE Borisov coach Viktor Goncharenko has no doubt his team will be fully motivated for the Champions League clash with Lille, despite having taken their foot off the pedal domestically after retaining the Belarusian title.

Goncharenko's side head into the encounter at Dinamo Stadion third in Champions League Group F and looking to keep alive their tussle with Bayern Munich and Valencia for qualification to the knockout phase.

Having picked up six points from their first four games - to lie three points behind the top two - BATE can guarantee a Europa League spot with a draw which would ensure at least third place in the pool, while a win would give them real hope of reaching the last 16 of Europe's premier club competition.

Goncharenko's players looked like they were going through the motions in Saturday's 0-0 draw at Slavia-Mozyr, but the 35-year-old has no worries about his men being up for tomorrow's game in Minsk.

"It's hard to prepare for the national championship games," he said at his post-match press conference. "And in the example of the match with Slavia-Mozyr that was clearly visible.

"As for the Champions League, we have repeatedly made sure that the team comes up with a different motivation. I have no doubt that tomorrow will be the same."

BATE got off to a flying start in Group F - winning 3-1 at Lille and 3-1 at home to Bayern. They then suffered two defeats against Valencia, but Goncharenko does not fear those losses will plague his players.

"Absolutely not," he said. "The Champions League is a tournament in which you need to quickly forget about one match and be immediately ready for the next one.

"The games against Valencia we analysed soon after, and now we look forward to the game against Lille."

Lille coach Rudi Garcia will be expecting a big improvement from his team as they attempt to salvage some pride from a disappointing European campaign.

The French team have not yet picked up a point in the group - going down 6-1 at Bayern last time out - and must win by a greater margin than 3-1 in Minsk to have any hope of overtaking their opponents for third place.

But LOSC travel to Belarus on the back of Friday's 2-0 loss at Lorient - a result which left Garcia demanding answers.

"We had the opportunity to move among the top positions, but for the first time I did not see a team that wanted to be tied at the top of Ligue 1, and that is inexplicable," said Garcia, whose side have won just one of their last nine away games in all competitions.

"We'll see why the players completely missed the first half. I would understand. I hope that those on the pitch have an explanation, because I do not have.

"I am angry, yes, because I was expecting something else."

Neither team have any fresh injury concerns ahead of tomorrow's game.