BATE Borisov 0-1 Viktoria Plzen: First half Bakos goal hands Czech side maiden Champions League victory

The match started brightly for the away side and in the second minute, Aliaksandr Gutor was forced into a good save to deny Vaclav Pilar. The Czech international picked up the ball on the edge of the area and managed to create some space before unleashing a powerful drive that Gutor did well to parry away.

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The home side then started to make their mark on the game and after 10 minutes they should have taken the lead. A magnificent breakaway left Renan Bressan with a glorious opportunity, but the Brazilian striker dragged his first-time shot well wide.

The game had started to become a real end-to-end encounter, and in the 12th minute the hosts were tested again, when a great cross from Petr Jiracek was met by Marek Bakos but the forward’s header was denied by a instinct stop from Gutor.

On the 20 minute mark, the hosts wasted another opportunity to edge ahead, when Bressan found himself in space on the edge of the box, but the No. 10 blasted straight over the bar.

Just before half time, however, the visitors took a deserved lead through Bakos. A great run and cross from Milan Petrzela left the striker with a simple finish to put his side in front.

The second half began with the away side still controlling the game, with Frantisek Sevinsky denied by Gutor, before a David Limbersky cross found Bakos in the centre of the box, but the tall striker’s effort flew just past the post.

The game started to slow down again, with the away side happy to sit back and take the result, but with just over 10 minutes to go substitute Mateja Kezman found some space on the edge of the box but the former Chelsea striker's drive was denied by Marek Cech.

The visitors managed to hold on despite some late pressure from the home side, to ensure that they are now the favourites to gain third spot in the group and qualify for the Europa League. The Czech champions will host AC Milan in their final group game, while BATE will travel to Barcelona next time around.