Champions League
2012-08-22 - BATE Borisov vs Ironi Kiryat Shmona
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: European Champions League
Wednesday 22 August 2012 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
BATE Borisov
BATE Borisov are the favourites for this tie as they have a lot more European experience than their Israeli opponents, but they will have to make sure they make that count in the first leg at home. The team will be playing this game in Minsk and not their usual home stadium, but that is something that seems to motivate them further with a larger crowd expected.
The side are currently leading the Belarusian top flight by 4 points, although they are 6-2-2 at home having scored 14 goals and conceded 6 in those games. BATE have already won through two rounds in the Champions League this season, although they are 1-1-0 at home in those games.
They did manage to get through three rounds of the Champions League last season to get into the Group Stages, but BATE were unfortunate to be placed with Barcelona and Milan and failed to progress further. BATE have lost just 2 of their last 12 Champions League games at home and they have now won just 1 of their last 6 home games.
Dmitri Baga will miss out for the home side, but otherwise there is a full squad to choose from.
Ironi Kiryat Shmona
Ironi Kiryat Shmona were the surprise winners of the Israeli top flight last season and that means they are involved for the first time in the Champions League and this is only the second time they are playing in a European competition.
The Israeli side won their domestic League comfortably last season and only lost 1 of their away games, finishing with a 9-5-1 record on their travels while scoring 22 goals and conceding just 9. They have already come through two qualifying rounds in the Champions League this season, although they lost in Zilina and earned a draw at Neftci thanks to a 90th minute equaliser.
Both of those ties were won at home as Ironi where they have scored 6 goals and kept 2 clean sheets in this competition so far. However, their away games have been a little tougher and they may just look to get this game back to Israel with themselves still in the tie.
David Solari and Bryan Gerzicich are both absent for Ironi in this game and both of those are considered key components of their team.
Head to Head
This will be the first meeting between these sides.
Prediction
BATE have all the experience on their side in this game, but they will do well not to underestimate Ironi Kiryat Shmona considering two of the last three Israeli Champions have at least reached the Group Stages.
However, Ironi are missing a couple of key players from their side and they have struggled in their two away games in this competition compared with how they have performed at home and that may give BATE enough of an edge to at least take a lead down to Israel for the second leg next week.
I am a little concerned with BATE's performances at home in the Champions League with just 1 win in their last 6, but I think they have the fresher squad and the greater experience so they look worth backing at double your money.
The Pick :
BATE Borisov 2-1 Ironi Kiryat Shmona
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back BATE Borisov @ 2.00
