BATE Borisov vs PAOK Thessaloniki Predictions

BATE Borisov take on PAOK Thessaloniki at the Borisov Arena this Thursday looking to make it two wins from two games in Group L of the 2018/19 Europa League.

The Belarusians battled their way to an impressive 2-0 win in Hungary against Vidi last month to give themselves the ideal platform to build on in their latest continental campaign.

BATE had been intent on making the group stages of the Champions League, but their chances were scuppered by Dutch champions PSV over two legs in the tournament’s pre-qualifiers over the summer.

BATE lost both legs of their double header to PSV, though those setbacks remain the club’s only defeats in their last twenty competitive outings. Winning the Belarusian Premier League has become a formality for BATE, though their season’s success is usually measured by how well they perform in Europe.

If BATE are to progress beyond the Group Stages of the Europa League, then their home form will be crucial. Four defeats in their last thirty-five competitive games at the Borisov Arena is a fantastic record and one that BATE will hope to enhance further this week against PAOK Thessaloniki.

The Greeks have lost only twice in thirteen competitive matches themselves this season. Portuguese giants Benfica beat PAOK in a Champions League qualification game in August and Chelsea squeezed past the Greek outfit in the opening match of Europa League Group L.

Those defeats stand in isolation this season however and PAOK have started their domestic campaign with five wins from five, conceding just one goal in the process. At home, PAOK have been excelling, however they have found winning outside Greek borders a much more difficult task.

PAOK have won only five of their last twenty-two Europa League away games and they have emerged victorious from just one of their last eight Champions League away fixtures.

Records like that can have a damaging psychological effect on even the most in form teams. BATE aren’t used to losing at home in European competition – in fact they have been beaten only twice in fifteen on their own patch in continental tournaments.

We expect BATE to make home advantage count on Thursday, though we recommend combining a home win selection with under 2.5 goals. Five of PAOK’s last six Europa League contests finished with under 2.5 goals scored and ten of BATE’s last fourteen European home games finished under the same goal total.

In keeping with our first tip, our correct score prediction forecasts a narrow 1-0 win for BATE.