PSV vs BATE Borisov Predictions

If the 1st Leg is anything to go by, we can expect a really entertaining game as PSV and BATE meet again in the UEFA Champions League play-off round this week. PSV are strong favourites to progress now but they’ve shown enough defensive weaknesses to suggest BATE have at least still got a glimmer of hope.

The side from Belarus will know though that the 1st Leg last week offered them their best chance of progress. Things started well enough when Jasse Tuominen put them ahead in only the 9th minute but gradually PSV started to show their class to take a 2-1 lead. There was a dramatic conclusion to the game too as BATE’s veteran midfielder Alexander Hleb came off the bench to level the scores in the 88th minute, only for PSV to go straight down the other end and seal a 3-2 win via another substitute, Donyell Malen.

It has been a good start to the season overall for PSV too. They’ve made a flying start to the defence of their Dutch title by winning all of their opening three league matches to take top spot. They reached the Champions League knockout stage as recently as 2015-16 and took eventual finalists Atletico Madrid to penalties and will be determined to at the very least make the group stage this term and they are in a great position to do that.

BATE were also in the Champions League group stage in 2015-16 but haven’t been back since. They’ve had to get through two qualifiers just to reach this point, with narrow 2-1 wins over both HJK and Qarabag. This though is a much sterner test and the odds are really stacked against them now.

They need to score at least twice here to stand any chance, having conceded three goals last week and therefore we should see them try to play in a fairly positive manner. They’ve only failed to score in 1 of their last 11 matches in all competitions and showed last week they have enough about them to cause problems for this PSV defence.

PSV’s last 3 games have all seen both teams score and they did end last season with the joint worst defensive record in the Eredivisie’s top four, despite winning the title. Therefore we could see some more twists and turns in this one and backing Both Teams to Score appeals.

PSV have the better players though and gaps should open up as BATE chase this, so going for PSV & Over 2.5 Goals also looks good.