BATE Borisov Held to Goalless Draw by KS Elbasani in Europa Conference League

BATE Borisov were left frustrated after a goalless stalemate against Albanian side KS Elbasani in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League on July 17, 2026. The match, played at the Borisov Arena, saw the Belarusian giants dominate possession but fail to break down a resilient Elbasani defence.

From the first half, BATE controlled the midfield through Vladislav Malkevich and Dmitry Bessmertny, but their final ball often let them down. The best chance of the opening period fell to striker Ilya Shkurin, whose close‑range header was brilliantly saved by Elbasani goalkeeper Fation Selmani in the 34th minute. The visitors, playing on the counter, managed a single shot on target through Redon Xhixha that was comfortably collected by BATE keeper Andrey Kudravets.

The second half followed a similar pattern. BATE introduced attacking substitutes Nemanja Milenković and Zakhar Volkov to add pace, but Elbasani’s backline, marshalled by captain Ardit Hila, stood firm. A late scramble in the box in the 89th minute saw the ball cleared off the line by midfielder Klodian Vatnikaj as Elbasani held on for a valuable away clean sheet.

Match Overview

• Competition: UEFA Europa Conference League – First Qualifying Round
• Venue: Borisov Arena, Barysaw
• Date: 17 July 2026
• Final Score: BATE Borisov 0 – 0 KS Elbasani

Standout Performances

Elbasani goalkeeper Fation Selmani was the clear MotM, producing five saves, many from dangerous positions. His distribution also kept BATE honest. For BATE, midfield anchor Vladislav Malkevich completed over 90% of his passes but lacked incisive assists. The home side will rue their profligacy in front of goal.

Table and Season Impact

The 0‑0 draw puts Elbasani in a strong position going into the second leg in Albania. BATE must now score away, while a scoreless draw in Elbasan would send the tie to extra time. BATE, currently mid‑table in the Belarusian Premier League, will need to sharpen their attacking edge if they are to progress in European competition this season.