BATE Borisov and Porto have both failed to find the net in the first half of their Champions League clash in Belarus.
Porto have already secured themselves a place in the last 16 of the competition, but BATE still have a chance of making it through if they win tonight and hope other results go their way.
The visitors controlled the early possession, though it was BATE who created a couple of chances in the opening stages as Aliaksandr Volodko and Mikhail Gordeychuk both tested the goalkeeper.
Having failed to do much with the ball, Porto's first opportunity came on 28 minutes when Ricardo Quaresma tried to pick out Jackson Martinez at the back post with a teasing cross, but the home side were able to clear through Vitali Gayduchik.
In a cagey first half that was characterised by bitty play in midfield, BATE tried their luck again with half an hour played as Alyaksandr Karnitsky blasted over with a speculative free kick.
Porto continued to struggle against the intensity of the BATE players, but they came close late on in the half when Martinez used his feet to create some space in the box. However, the Colombian spoiled all of his hard work by smashing the ball high and wide.
Jack Prescott
