FC Sion thrashed BATE Borisov 4-0 at Stade de Tourbillon to win 5-1 on aggregate in the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round. Goals from Boteli, Nivokazi, Baltazar and Berdayes sealed the tie.
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Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
Sion did not waste time settling the tie. Winsley Boteli Mokango opened the scoring in the fifth minute, turning home from close range after BATE failed to clear a corner. The early goal forced the visitors into a defensive reshuffle: Pavel Dubovskiy limped off after only 15 minutes, replaced by Nikita Neskoromny.
Sion doubled their lead seven minutes before half-time. Ilyes Chouaref slipped a pass through for Rilind Nivokazi, who finished calmly to make it 2-0 at the break.
The second half followed the same script. Baltazar Costa drilled a left-footed strike past the BATE goalkeeper in the 58th minute after being teed up by Ali Kabacalman. Kabacalman then missed a penalty four minutes later — the only blemish on an otherwise ruthless attacking display.
Tiago Berdayes capped the scoring in the 68th minute, meeting a Donat Rrudhani cut-back with a composed finish. Rilind Nivokazi was booked shortly after before making way for an Almamy Llukes substitution in the 73rd minute.
The turning point
Boteli's fifth-minute opener. Against a side that needed to score after a 1-1 first-leg draw in Borisov, conceding so early forced BATE to chase the game from the opening stages. Sion's comfort on the ball after that moment — they finished with 53.3% possession — reflected a tie that was effectively over inside the first ten minutes.
Key performers
Baltazar Costa — the Brazilian midfielder scored Sion's third and teed up Kabacalman's penalty opportunity. His link play between the lines caused BATE persistent problems, evidenced by Sion's 10 chances created.
Winsley Boteli Mokango — the early goal set the tone. The Swiss forward's movement pulled BATE's backline out of shape throughout his 65 minutes.
Rilind Nivokazi — a goal and an assist in the first half, the Kosovo midfielder was at the heart of Sion's best work before his 73rd-minute substitution.
Player of the Match: Baltazar Costa — the 58th-minute goal and his all-round creative contribution in central areas made the difference against a BATE side that struggled to contain him.
By the numbers — interpreted
The match stats tell a one-sided story that goes beyond the 4-0 scoreline. Sion registered 17 shots to BATE's five, with eight on target to the visitors' zero — BATE goalkeeper made four saves, meaning every Sion attempt on target required intervention. Sion's 34 touches in the opposition box dwarfed BATE's three, illustrating how rarely the visitors threatened. The 10-1 corner count and 10-0 big chances missed split confirm Sion created and squandered far more, while BATE's 55.1% duel success rate (49 duels won to 40) was their only statistical bright spot but counted for little in the final third.
What it means
Sion advanced to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League, where they faced Armenian side FC Noah on 6 August (away) and 13 August (home). The Swiss Super League outfit carried strong domestic form into the tie — they beat Luzern 3-0 in the league on 2 August before the first leg against Noah. BATE Borisov exited European competition for the season, having also been eliminated from Conference League qualifying. Their focus now turns fully to the Belarusian Premier League.
Verdict
Sion were in a different class from the first whistle. The 4-0 scoreline flattered BATE only in that Sion missed a penalty and hit the woodwork — the gap in quality was wider than the result suggests. Sion's next test against Noah will demand more discipline, but this was a statement performance from Didier Tholot's side.
Match Events
Key match events between FC Sion and Bate Borisov — 5 goals and 3 cards recorded during the match.
assist: I. Chouaref
Missed Penalty · assist: A. Kabacalman
assist: D. Rrudhani
Rivalry since 2026
FC Sion vs Bate Borisov Head to Head Results· 1
FC Sion and Bate Borisov have met 1 times — FC Sion won 0, Bate Borisov won 0, with 1 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2026. A combined 2 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 2.00 per match (1 for the home side, 1 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 1 match (100%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 0 games (0%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 1–1 in 2026.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 14 Aug 2026