As we approach the end of July, fixtures from Europe’s top-five league remain a few weeks away, but plenty is happening across Europe. The early rounds of the UEFA Champions League are already underway, with qualifiers scheduled for midweek, including five games on Wednesday evening. The best will be shown live on television, and you can predict the outcome at 22bet.
The game that caught our eye on Wednesday was Aris Limassol v BATE Borisov. Not the kind of blockbuster tie we’ve become used to in this competition over the years, but this promises to be a thriller. Limassol and Borisov have Champions League group-stage experience and know what qualifying could do for their clubs. Making the groups would provide a huge cash injection, helping the manager attract new players of a higher caliber while giving the best of his squad a chance to impress on the biggest stage in Europe.
Which team do you expect to win on Wednesday night? It’s the qualifying second round first leg games, meaning there’s all to play for, but the teams know how a first-leg lead might help them through. Will Aris use their home advantage to progress, or perhaps BATE are out to cause an upset and exit with that all-important victory. Read our expert preview and make your predictions at 22bet.
Plenty of work to be done
These teams have never met in competitive action, meaning the tie doubles as a chance to make history. Getting off to a winning start in the head-to-head stats would be a feather in the cap of one team and could boost their chances of going to the next round. There’s still plenty of work between now and making it into the draw for the Champions League proper. But Aris knows a win on Wednesday, and maybe a few goals scored would put them in a commanding position. There’s an air of confidence in the home dressing room.
Aris won the Cypriot First Division last year and fully deserved their crown. They finished the campaign but managed only third in the regular season. Stats of 15 wins, eight draws, and three defeats left Limassol with 53 points on the board, six points fewer than regular season winners APOEL. But that isn’t enough to create a champion, with the Cypriot League breaking into two groups after 26 games; the championship and relegation round. Aris came good when it mattered most.
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The Light Brigade isn’t the biggest name in the competition, and few football pundits would be surprised if they were to duck out at this early stage. But they are a team headed in the right direction, and after a summer of strengthening their squad, they look ready for another campaign. The late success of last season’s title win helped inspire confidence, and the home fans will be in full voice, aiming to help drive their favorites to victory. The locals won’t be a soft touch on their patch, that’s for sure.
BATE won last time
If you’re a regular follower of the UEFA Champions League, especially during the summer months, BATE Borisov will be a familiar face. The Belarussian outfit has performed in this tournament many times before slipping into the Europa League or Europa Conference League. A team that’s not lacking in big-game experience, and it’s that history that could prove the difference here.
Wednesday evening isn’t BATE’s opening game of the Champions League qualifier. They were last seen in the qualifying first round, where they eliminated Partizani Tirana 3-1 on aggregate. The first leg ended 1-1 with BATE on the road, and fans knew that although it wasn’t a win, a scoring draw on the road is often a good indicator that a side will improve when back on their patch. And that’s exactly what Borisov did.
They booked their slot in the second qualifying round and a game against Aris with a comfortable 2-0 win at home. A little too close for comfort in the first leg, but there was no denying the best team went through. BATE will be in no mood to sit back and admire their work now. They know the tests will grow stronger with the passing of each game.
Aris Limassol v BATE Borisov Prediction
Aris knows their opponents drew on the road in the first leg of the previous round but also that they grabbed an impressive win at home to go through. That leaves Aris with one thing in mind; they must win the opening game, ideally by a few clear goals. They are at home, fresher, and many pundits have them picked to win.
BATE don’t hold the home advantage, but what they have over their opponents is minutes in the legs. The players will be further ahead in their pre-season preparations and fitness than their hosts, and at this time of year, that could make a difference. Another draw on the road would give Borisov fans reason to be confident.
Champions League odds
The pre-match betting odds available at 22bet has Aris Limassol to win at 1.645 with BATE Borisov at 5.25 and the draw 3.92.
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