BATE v Real Madrid

Belief crucial as BATE await Madrid


Aleksandr Ermakovich wants FC BATE Borisov to believe they are "capable of beating" Real Madrid CF as the Spanish champions come to Minsk for a vital Group H game, with team-mate Gennadi Bliznyuk adding: "We will have our chances."

'To believe'
BATE's maiden UEFA Champions League campaign has taught the club that they have nothing to fear, and with two group games left they can still go through. Ermakovich said: "The main thing is to believe that we are capable of playing against them, capable of playing well and capable of beating them." Bliznyuk agreed, saying: "We will have our chances as well and when they come the most important thing is for us to make the most of them."

Madrid absentees
Neither 33-year-old midfielder Ermakovich or striker Bliznyuk, 28, were available for BATE's opening group game, which they lost 2-0 at Madrid. While the latter was serving a suspension, Ermakovich – BATE's most experienced player – missed much of the autumn with a recurring knee problem.

Respectable performance
"I went through hard times watching that game," said the BATE captain, who finally returned to action on 9 November. "We were still group stage debutants. It was very interesting to see how we might get on in the group, and I thought our lads were great. They played very attractively. And I am happy that we have not turned out to be whipping boys in this section."

'Serious opposition'
A 2-2 draw against Juventus and a 1-1 tie at FC Zenit St. Petersburg proved that, in Ermakovich's words, "we could present serious opposition to any of our opponents". He added: "Of course, we could have done more in the games where we were in front [2-0 against Juventus and 1-0 against Zenit], but that's football, and it is still very great to play such opponents not look out of place."

Title hangover
A 2-1 win against FC Torpedo Zhodino on 25 October saw BATE take their third successive league title – the fifth in total – and although they suffered a defeat and two draws in their remaining Belarussian league fixtures, Ermakovich is sure they will be firing on all cylinders against Madrid.

Qualification hopes
Ermakovich said: "We don't need any motivation for Madrid. This is one of the most successful clubs in the world. Everybody knows who Madrid are." Victory would keep BATE's qualifying hopes alive, with the midfielder adding: "If we still have a chance, we have to try to use it. We have to give our all and have no regrets afterwards. We have to focus and play with total commitment."

Crucial areas
Bliznyuk agreed, saying: "We have to show discipline in defence and work the ball through midfield very fast." Cold weather in Belarus may not suit Madrid but the striker knows it will not stop them threatening. "Madrid have very good ball control," he said. "Their passing game is almost perfect. They use short and medium passes a lot and those amazing through-balls into the area."