BATE Borisov went into tonight's Champions League tie against Lille needing a victory to keep their hopes of progressing from Group F alive.
Lille had lost four consecutive European matches but took the lead early on when Djibril Sidibe curled home a superb strike from range.
Belgian striker Gianni Bruno doubled the visitor's advantage with a goal on his Champions League debut minutes later. BATE failed to find a response and slipped to a disappointing defeat which cements Valencia's position in the last 16.
Read how Rudi Garcia's men secured a shock win in Minsk with Sports Mole's live text commentary below.
Afternoon Champions League fans. Another rollercoaster night of European football begins in Belarus as BATE try to continue their remarkable adventure at home to Lille.
BATE have shocked Group F with a series of impressive performances, beating Bayern Munich and Lille on two of the most famous nights in the club's history.
Lille's Champions League campaign has been an unmitigated disaster, losing four in a row including a humiliating 6-1 defeat in Munich two weeks ago.
BATE can give themselves a great chance to qualify for the last 16 with a win tonight, which will give them 9 points ahead of the final matchday.
The visitors are largely playing for pride but Rudi Garcia's side can keep alive faint hopes of Europa League qualification with a big win in Belarus.
Let's bring you news of the starting lineups just over 30 minutes from kickoff.
BATE: Gorbunov, Radkov, Bordachev, Filipenko, Polyakov, Volodko, Bressan, Hleb, Olekhnovich, Baga, Rodionov SUBS: Gutor, Yurevich, Simić, Kontsevoi, Sivakov, Vasilyuk, Likhtarovich.
BATE coach Viktor Goncharenko has picked an attacking side in search of a crucial victory, with Alex Hleb and Renan Bressan both picked in a positive midfield.
LOSC: Elana, Digne, Rozehnal, Sidibé, Baša, Gueye, Martin, Pedretti, Kalou, Bruno, Rodelin SUBS: Landreau, Soumaoro, Bonnart, Mavuba, Klonaridis, Payet, Roux.
Rudi Garcia has made a number of changes following Friday's league defeat to Lorient. Winger Gianni Bruno makes his Champions League debut while 19-year-old Lucas Digne starts at left back.
Goncharenko has drummed home the importance of not taking Lille lightly ahead of today's match. He said: "We have to focus on our opponents and forget about Valencia and Bayern, we will find out their result after the match."
Garcia has demanded a response from the visitors following their dismal display in Munich a fortnight ago. He said: "We played to win from the very first game, but have failed to pick up any points. I hope to see a different result."
The two sides met in September on the opening night of Group F action, when BATE stormed to a shock 3-0 victory thanks to some vibrant attacking football.
Aleksandr Volodko, Vitali Rodionov and Edgar Olekhnovich did the damage for BATE, all scoring in the first half to get their campaign off to a flier.
BATE built on that breakthrough victory in their next match in the tournament, stunning Bayern Munich to beat last season's finalists in convincing fashion.
Valencia brought BATE crashing back to earth in their last two fixtures, recording back-to-back victories thanks to the lethal finishing of Roberto Soldado.
Bayern host Valencia in tonight's other Group F clash, giving BATE the chance to close a three-point gap on their rivals with a win against Lille.
There are a few familiar names on show for Premier League fans in Belarus tonight. Alex Hleb will make his 87th appearance in UEFA competition tonight. The enigmatic former Arsenal winger is a key component of BATE's success in Europe this season.
A former Champions League winner and Chelsea striker leads the line for Lille tonight. Yes it's the Ivorian forward Salomon Kalou.
Kalou scored consistently but frustrated just as often during a six-year spell at Stamford Bridge.
We are just five minutes from getting underway in Belarus.
The famous music is playing, a sure sign it's time for another huge night of Champions League action to begin.
I must say the pitch in Belarus looks in superb condition, but a heavy fog has surrounded the stadium.
Just a reminder that BATE have gone with an attacking side in search of a vital victory. Hleb and Bressan both start in advanced positions.
BATE get us underway and that fog will definitely be a factor tonight.
The home side settle into possession in the early stages and look assured on the ball.
Olekhnovich lofts it forward but cannot find Rodinov, who had taken up a good position behind the Lille defence.
Bruno concedes a foul with a dangerous high foot.
Rodinov and Bressan link up neatly on the edge of the area but Hleb's final bass is a disappointment and Lille clear their lines.
An inexperienced Lille side have set out their stall early on, dropping deep and looking to counter. BATE have enjoyed all the possession in the opening five minutes.
Rodinov reacts quickest to a slack pass but is quickly surrounded and fails to get a shot off.
Lille are happy for BATE to dominate possession and wait for mistakes. Baga duly obliges, trying a through-ball which drifts out harmlessly for a goal kick.
Bordachev makes a strong run down the flank and does well to block a clearance by the Lille youngster Digne.
Lille finally enjoy a spell of possession but an initially promising pass from Gueye goes out of a play after a poor touch from Digne.
BATE look unsure whether to press the action higher up the pitch. A win is imperative but there is no rush to get the ball forward at this stage.
An absolutely magnificent strike from Sidibe. Lille break forward with Kalou and Sidibe reacts to a poor clearance to curl home from the edge of the area. A quite superb strike and the visitors have the lead against the run of play.
A huge setback for BATE, who all behind after Lille score with their first attack. They have a chance to respond instantly when Bressan finds space in the area but the ball gets trapped between his feet and the chance is gone.
BATE break again, a nice first time pass from Hleb finds Olekhnovich but his shot drifts well wide of the target.
An excellent cross finds Rodinov at the back post, but he chooses to shoot off balance and his effort clears the crossbar with ease.
Hleb plays a superb reverse pass into the area but Baga has timed his run poorly and the flag goes up for offside.
Lille spurn a superb chance to go 2-0 ahead after a goalkeeping error. Bruno has an empty net to aim at but miscues to send the ball wide.
Lille have grown in confidence after the goal and look secure in possession. Martin and Burno have linked up well on a couple of occasions in the last few minutes.
BATE are being roared on by an expectant crowd and need to raise their game accordingly.
Marvin Martin whips in a free kick but Gorbunov is equal to the effort and avoids conceding a corner.
Bressan looks for Rodinov in the penalty area but his pass has too much weight to find the in-form forward.
Pedretti gives away possession in a dangerous area, allowing BATE to work the angle for an inviting cross. Bressan dinks the ball across the six-yard box but cannot find a blue shirt and the chance goes begging.
Digne plays another sloppy pass in the box but again BATE cannot capitalise. The visitors are playing well but placing themselves under unnecessary pressure.
The fog has lifted considerably around the ground in the last few minutes.
GOAL for Lille The two youngsters combine to create a superb second for Lille. Digne beats the BATE backline to cross for Bruno, who flicks in for a first time score on his Champions League debut.
Bruno is booked for removing his shirt during the celebrations. His first goal of the season has left BATE's qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
Hleb is trying to drive BATE forward. He passes to Valadzko but his drive is caught comfortably by Elana.
BATE are desperate to reduce the deficit before the break but their final pass is not up to standard. Lille have been clinical on the break and are five minutes away from taking a two-goal lead into the break.
Kalou breaks for Lille, beating a defender before finding Bruno at the near post. The youngster shoots but fails to find the target from close range.
Martin finds some room out wide but his low shot is easily saved by Gorbunov.
The Croatian official gets in the way before booking Bressan when he wins the ball back from Sidibe. A poor decision but the first caution of the match nonetheless.
Martin has just enough time to take a corner before the break before the whistle goes for half time.
We have a shock on our hands in Belarus, with an under-strength Lille side taking a two-goal lead into the break.
BATE dominated possession in the early stages but failed to create chances and were punished when Sidibe curled a superb strike home with Lille's first meaningful attack.
Things went from bad to worse for the hosts when Bruno scored from close range on his Champions League debut ten minutes later. Rudi Garcia's side played out a comfortable remainder of the half and are well worth their advantage at the interval.
BATE need to find a way to draw level to maintain any ambitions of a place in the last 16. Pressure on!
That strike from Sidibe will feature prominently in tonight's Champions League roundup. A strange curling strike, in-swinging from a wide angle.
Lille also had chances to go further ahead and put this match beyond doubt. Belgian youngster Bruno could have a first-half hat trick on his Champions League debut, but will settle for his goal on the half hour.
BATE have only managed one shot on target in the opening period, far from adequate for a side still chasing a place in the knockout stages.
Lille have played like a side under no pressure, passing freely and hitting BATE on the counter to devastating effect.
Viktor Goncharenko will need to rouse his players into a quick response in the second half. Hleb and Bressan have failed to create chances in advanced positions.
The players are back out and ready to get the second half underway.
BATE have made a change at the break, bringing on Kontsetvoi in attack in place of Volodko.
Lille take the kickoff and are straight on the attack. Kalou drives forward but is robbed off the ball before he can get a shot away.
Kalou breaks again, beating the full back and cutting back for Bruno, who can't beat his marker in the six-yard box.
Sidibe is shown a yellow card for a cynical foul on Hleb.
Hleb has moved into a central area in an effort to get more involved in the match. BATE need the former Arsenal to show his quality in this second half.
Huge chance goes begging for BATE. Kontsovoi puts the ball into area to find Rodinov. His shot is too close to Elana, who blocks the effort clear for a corner.
Kalou's blocked cross finds Sidibe, who has an effort of his own sent out for a corner kick.
An injury delay as Rodelin goes down after an aerial challenge. Surely it's too early for running down the clock?
Lille come within inches of scoring a third. Rodelin nearly takes advantage of a goalkeeping error to slot into an unguarded net. Olekhnovic runs back into position and clears off the line. Nervous times for the home side.
The pesky mist is still affecting vision for the players, and far more importantly my ability to see what's going on.
BATE still look devoid of ideas after 15 minutes of the second half. Things just haven't clicked for the home side.
Bressan shows his frustration by dragging down Digne. He is already on a yellow card and needs to be careful.
Hleb draws a foul from Pedretti with a smart pivot. Free kick in an advanced position to follow.
The ball bounces twice in the area before finally being booted away by Rozenhal. BATE's best opening of the second half and it comes from a set-piece.
Rudi Garcia makes his first change and the goalscorer Bruno is being withdrawn. On comes Nolan Roux to provide fresh legs in attack.
Roux is Lille's top scorer this season with four goals in all competitions.
Martin plays a dangerous ball into the area which is turned away by a last-ditch clearance. BATE look tired and can't gain any sustained pressure or possession with just over 20 minutes to play.
BATE win a corner but Lille clear and break quickly.
A reminder that the visitors need one more goal to keep any faint hopes of Europa League qualification alive.
Garcia makes his second change, swapping Kalou for first-team regular Dimitri Payet.
BATE win another corner but again Lille clear with relative ease.
If this scoreline stays the same then Valencia's place in the knockout stages will be secure before they entertain Bayern Munich tonight.
Bressan sends a truly shameful free kick high and wide with a box full of players waiting for cross. He pounds the floor in frustration and rightly so.
Lille work a cross into Roux who heads into the grateful arms of Gorbunov from close range.
Things have gone flat for BATE and Lille look capable of scoring a third before full time at this rate.
A red card has changed things completely. Sidibe has been given a second yellow for a late lunge on Bordachev. A slightly harsh decision but persistent fouling may have come into his thoughts there.
BATE have been handed a late lifeline and have 15 minutes to seize the initiative.
Lille are lucky to escape after a comedy of errors at the back. Bressan finds Hleb but his cross from close range deflects safely into Elana's arms.
Both sides make a late change. Lille withdraw Martin for Bonnart while BATE decide to swap Hleb for Sivakov.
Arsenal fans will recognise the frustrating Hleb who has flattered to deceive tonight.
Lille break and come inches away from finding Rodelin unmarked at the far post. BATE have to throw bodies forward and will leave gaps in the last 10 minutes.
BATE have a break on goal rudely interrupted as Olekhnovic drifts lazily back from an offside position.
Rodelin is down injured for the second time in 10 minutes. A welcome breather for Lille who are nearly home and dry with their first win in the Champions League this season.
Lille continue with nine men as Rodelin limps to the touchline.
Bordachev finds Rodinov with a brilliant ball over the top but BATE's top scorer is let down by a poor first touch and the chance is gone.
A final throw of the dice from Goncharenko as Olekhnovic is replaced by Vasilyuk with five minutes left to play.
Bressan crosses at the near post with Rodinov busting a gut to meet the pass. His outstretched leg cannot make contact.
Pedretti is given a long overdue yellow card for taking out Bressan on the halfway line. He will now be suspended for their final Group F match against Valencia.
Lille have looked relatively comfortable in the second half, even with ten men.
BATE finally beat Elana but Bonnart races back to clear the ball off the line.
Radkov is booked for a late lunge on Gueye as the fourth official signals five minutes of added time.
Bordachev slaloms into the area but is met by a wall of Lille defenders who clear high up the pitch.
Payet dribbles into the final third and wins a corner.
He takes the corner but is offside as the clearance finds its way back to the winger.
BATE smash the ball upfield and win a corner.
Filipenko smashes a shot well wide of the target with BATE's last chance of the match. A disappointing night for the hosts.
The match draws to a close and Lille have shocked BATE to win their first match in Europe this season with an under-strength side.
BATE now need Valencia to beat Bayern in tonight's other Group F tie to stand any chance of progressing to the knockout stages.
Thanks for joining us and be sure to stick with Sports Mole for full coverage of an important night in the Champions League.
Written by
Liam Power
Liam Power
