TipResumen

BATE BORISOV

No one would have thought the new Champions League Qualifying format would be easy for some of the winners of the lesser European Leagues and BATE Borisov will understand that as much as any other club. Having beaten the Finnish and Azerbaijani Champions, BATE Borisov have to negotiate one more tough opponent to make it back into the Champions League Group Stage. It won't be lost on BATE Borisov that they are going to be the underdog in the two Legged Play Off tie against Dutch Champions PSV Eindhoven and the home Leg to be played on Tuesday is very important for them. So far BATE Borisov have not been able to win either of the 2 home Champions League games played having drawn with HJK Helsinki and Qarabag, and those results mean 6 of their last 8 home European ties have ended in draws. BATE Borisov are in the midst of their domestic League campaign in Belarus and they are 7 points clear at the top of the table. They are unbeaten in 7 games at home in all competitions, but 4 of those have ended in draws and there is some pressure on BATE Borisov to at least take a lead to Eindhoven next week.



PSV EINDHOVEN

Losing to Osijek in the Europa League Qualifiers may have indicated it could be difficult season for PSV Eindhoven, but they were able to focus on domestic matters and won their third title in four seasons to return to the Champions League. Their last two Champions League appearances began in the Group Stage, but the new format means the Dutch Champions have to win a Play Off Qualifier to return to that stage of the competition. The Dutch Eredivise has begun so there shouldn't be too many concerns for PSV Eindhoven in playing a club who are very much in the middle of their own domestic campaign. The side have not won any of their last 10 European games which is a concern going into this important Knock Out tie, while PSV Eindhoven have not won any of their last 11 away European games and have lost 7 of those. PSV Eindhoven were beaten on a penalty shoot out by Feyenoord in the Dutch Super Cup, but they have won both League games played since then to make a strong start to the defence of their title. They have only lost 1 of their last 7 away games in all competitions and PSV Eindhoven have won 4 of those games.



HEAD TO HEAD

This is the first time BATE Borisov and PSV Eindhoven are meeting in a competitive fixture.



PREDICTION

The new Champions League format means 26 of the 32 Group Stage teams have been decided before the four Rounds of Qualifiers begin and you have to feel sorry for the teams who have to fight through the difficulty to join the biggest names in European Football. Some of the Champions have to get through the Qualifiers too and the Belarusian and Dutch Champions will meet over the next eight days for one of the six remaining spots in the Group Stage. The edge has to be with PSV Eindhoven over BATE Borisov, but the First Leg could be a critical tie for both clubs. It is very important for BATE Borisov to try and take a lead to the Netherlands, while PSV Eindhoven were beaten very early in the Europa League twelve months ago when going down 0-2 on aggregate to Osijek. I am finding it hard to separate them and I think the draw looks the most likely outcome. PSV Eindhoven have not won any of their last 11 away European games and have been beaten in 7 of those, but BATE Borisov have drawn 6 of their last 8 home European games. In that time only Arsenal have won here and I think this is going to be a very close First Leg where I think both teams will feel they have a chance in the Second Leg if they haven't been beaten. The onus is with BATE Borisov being at home, but they have worked their way through the last couple of Rounds on strong away performances and I think it is worth a very small interest in backing the draw here.