Astana vs BATE Predictions, Betting Tips, & Match Preview

Astana finished 3rd in the Kazakhstan Premier League regular season, qualifying themselves as one of six teams through to the so called “Championship round”. After a further thirty two fixtures, Astana stood top by just one point, which was enough to crown themselves as domestic champions and qualify them for the UEFA Champions League. The hosts were unable to replicate last year’s superb run in the Champions League, in which they became the first team from Kazakhstan to reach the group stage, after their 3-2 aggregate defeat against Brendon Rodgers’ Celtic earlier this month saw them pooled into the Europa League playoff round. Astana will, instead, look to prove themselves here in order to build upon their European reputation.

BATE’s dominance in the Belerusian Premier League is at this point very clear. BATE won the domestic title for a 10th consecutive season in 2015 and they remain the only Belerusian team to have ever qualified for the Champions League group stage, which they have done regularly over the past ten years. They are also just one of two Belerusian teams to ever qualify for the Europa League group stage, along with Dinamo Minsk. With the Belerus Premier League already well underway, this doesnt look to change any time soon either. BATE stand thirteen points ahead of 2nd placed Shakhtor in the league and are unbeaten in eleven consecutive fixtures (W11 D2).

Despite BATE’s prominance in European competition, they have yet to prove themselves as a top European side due to their failure to perform on the road. When considering that BATE haven’t won an away match in any European competition since the Champions League group stages of 2012, drawing six and losing eleven of their last seventeen Champions League away matches, and drawing one and losing two of their last three Europa League away matches, it is easy to see why Astana are the bookies’ favourites here, despite having less European competition experience – the side was only founded seven years ago. BATE have also failed to score in three of their last four European away matches and, as such, we feel the bookies’ price for a home win here is extremely reasonable. Astana will likely not “thrash” BATE, but we expect the home side will fight to take a comfortable advantage away from the first leg, knowing the second leg in Belarus will be a challenge.

Hence, FC Astana to win at 23/20 and Astana to win 2-0 at 8/1 are our choice bets for this UEFA Europa League first round playoff match.