UEFA.com works better on other browsers
For the best possible experience, we recommend using Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge.

BATE buoyant for visit of in-form Bayern

FC BATE Borisov coach Viktor Goncharenko is unperturbed by FC Bayern München's form, with Jupp Heynckes aware that the Belarusian champions can pack a punch in Group F.

BATE have not lost a game since July
BATE have not lost a game since July ©Getty Images

Both victorious in Group F on matchday one, FC BATE Borisov and FC Bayern München will meet for the first time in UEFA competition on Tuesday. The Belarusian side's coach, Viktor Goncharenko, is unmoved by the Bundesliga leaders' perfect start to the campaign, and with good reason – his own team are unbeaten in all competitions since the beginning of July.

BATE
Coach Viktor Goncharenko

We are approaching the game in good form and a good mood. We do not need to worry about high expectations after our [3-1] victory in Lille. We won, got three points and that is all that matters. Bayern are on a great [nine-game] winning streak, but all runs end some day.

The Bundesliga is one of the top leagues [in Europe], but the UEFA Champions League is a different tournament. We have the necessary experience and approach this game calmly, having prepared properly. Aleksandr Hleb is a very experienced player. He has played with Mario Mandžukić and Mario Gomez, so we will ask him some things.

We will approach this game in our usual manner because it has proved its worth recently. We gave our players too much information last season when we met Barcelona – that was a costly mistake, and we do not want to fall into the same trap. We are not going to give up before the game and are keen to give them a battle. Bayern are in great form, but the same can be said about us.

Weekend result
Friday: BATE 5-1 FC Neman Grodno (Bressan 26 pen 61, Pavlov 45, Rodionov 51 64; Denisevich 39)
Gorbunov; Polyakov, Radkov, Simić, Bordachev; Likhtarovich (Olekhnovich 70); Volodko, Pavlov (Mozolevski 67), Rudik; Bressan; Rodionov (Kontsevoi 77).

• BATE have now gone 16 matches unbeaten in all competitions since a 3-1 home defeat by FC Dinamo Minsk on 1 July.

Bayern
Coach Jupp Heynckes

With BATE's season in full swing, Bayern do not have any advantage in terms of match fitness, and I have to say I was surprised by BATE's performance in their [3-1] victory in Lille. You have to respect your opponents regardless of who you play – Champions League winners or otherwise. BATE had a great game in France, so we have to take them very seriously. The Champions League is a big challenge for our side, and BATE will have some advantage as they are at home.

I have a lot of respect for Aleksandr Hleb. I remember him playing in the Bundesliga and then for Arsenal and Barcelona. He may be BATE's key player, and he is playing as well as he did when he was at Stuttgart. BATE have become Champions League regulars, and do pretty well. They are a unique team. As for us, we have some big targets, but it is too early to talk about them. First of all, we have to qualify from our group.

Weekend result
Saturday: SV Werder Bremen 0-2 Bayern (Luiz Gustavo 81, Mandžukić 83)
Neuer; Lahm, Boateng, Dante, Badstuber; Schweinsteiger (Martínez 75), Luiz Gustavo; Müller, Kroos (Shaqiri 58), Ribéry; Pizarro (Mandžukić 58).

• Bayern's ninth successive victory in all competitions equalled the club record for wins at the beginning of a season. Bastian Schweinsteiger made his 400th appearance for the Bavarian team.

Team news
Arjen Robben sat out the Bremen match because of muscle problems, and Heynckes confirmed that he would miss this game through injury along with team-mates Gomez and David Alaba.

Match fact
This is the first time the German giants have faced opponents from Belarus, while BATE faced Bayern's city rivals TSV 1860 München in the 2002 UEFA Intertoto Cup second round. BATE won 1-0 away – Artem Kontsevoi scoring in the 74th minute having missed a penalty in the first half – and 4-0 at home.

Selected for you