BATE Borisov held on to record a famous 3-2 victory over Roma in their Champions League group-stage clash.
The Belarussian side raced into a three-goal lead inside 32 minutes, before the Giallorossi hit back late on.
Ihar Stasevich opened the scoring for BATE and full-back Filip Mladenovic added two more, leaving strikes from Gervinho and Vasilis Torosidis as mere consolations come full time.
Relive Sports Mole's live text coverage from the entertaining affair below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Champions League group-stage meeting between BATE Borisov and Roma.
The second round of action from Europe's showpiece competition is upon us, with an array of hugely entertaining fixtures to look forward to across the continent. Tonight we will see whether Roma can build on their opening-game draw against Barcelona in order to remain on course to progress through to the knockout stages.
The Italian outfit come up against a BATE side who were put to the sword in their opening fixture a fortnight ago, having fallen 4-1 away at Bayer Leverkusen. Not the greatest of starts for Alyaksandr Yermakovich's charges, then, but there is still plenty of time to put that right - starting with three points this evening.
Before taking a look at the background of this fixture in some more detail, let's check out some team news from the Borisov-Arena.
TEAM NEWS!
BATE BORISOV XI: Chernik; Polyakov, Dubra, Milunovic, Mladenovic; Stasevich, Yablonski, Nikolic, Volodko; Gordeichuk; Signevich
ROMA XI: Szczesny; Florenzi, Manolas, De Rossi, Digne; Pjanic, Vainqueur, Nainggolan; Gervinho, Iturbe, Salah
Roma can call upon Wojciech Szczesny in goals once again following his recent layoff. The Arsenal keeper was expected to miss around a month of action, but just two weeks after damaging his hand he is back in action. At the opposite end of the field, Rudi Garcia has gone without a recognised striker, instead opting to seemingly start with Mohamed Salah highest up.
Juan Iturbe can certainly provide an attacking threat, however, and may indeed be used through the middle with Salah and Gevinho providing support from wider starting positions. Roma have had plenty of injury problems to contend with this week, which means that Francesco Totti, Edin Dzeko and Seydou Keita are all out of action.
BENCH WATCH!
BATE BORISOV SUBS: Soroko, Karnitski, Volodko, Rios, Aleksievich, Hleb, Jevtic
ROMA SUBS: De Sanctis, Castan, Maicon, Torosidis, Ucan, Falque, Soleri
BATE goalkeeper Sergei Chernik has kept 15 clean sheets in his 21 appearances so far this season, while it took some 11 games for him to even concede a goal. He is unsurprisingly given the nod in goal, with Artem Soroko providing back-up. There is also a place for a certain Aleksander Hleb on the BATE bench this evening. Now there's a blast from the past.
Miralem Pjanic makes his 150th Roma appearance this evening, but Francesco Totti misses out through injury
Well Roma head into this Champions League fixture on the back of a somewhat indifferent start to their domestic campaign. This has, in fact, been the Giallorossi's worst start to life under head coach Rudi Garcia. That is largely down to their strong previous starts, of course, but things now appear to be back on track following the 5-1 win over Carpi on the weekend.
Garcia's men find themselves in sixth place in the Serie A table as things stand, though they are just four points off current leaders Fiorentina. We appear to have a really open season on our hands in Italy, so the target for the Giallorossi has got to be a title charge.
As for BATE, well they are currently storming their domestic lead after opening up a strong lead at the top. However, 12 of their 24 wins overall this term have come via a 1-0 scoreline, which suggests that they have become the masters of grinding out slender victories.
The Belarussian champions are just a handful of points away from retaining their league crown, but attention is now very much on making an impact in Europe's showpiece competition. It will be tough, of course, but a victory here tonight and BATE will be right back in the chase for a top-two place.
DID YOU KNOW? BATE Borisov have won each of their last three home games in the Champions League. It should be said, though, that those victories have each come against weaker opposition in the qualifying rounds.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Tonight's clash provides us with the first ever meeting between these two sides. Roma have never faced off against Belarussian opposition, in fact, while BATE have drawn four and lost four of their eight matches against Italian clubs.
Rudi Garcia's Lille side lost at this very ground a few years back to provide Borisov with their first ever win at this stage of the competition
KICKOFF! Right, we are underway at the Borisov-Arena. BATE, who have made two changes this evening - and are without their leading scorer - up against an under strength Roma side.
SHOT! Gervinho gets a shot away at goal inside the opening 60 seconds, but it was simple enough for Chernik to keep out down the middle in the end. Fifteen clean sheets in 21 outings for him so far this term.
A bright start from Roma, who are looking to slip Gervinho in where possible. It could be a long evening for the BATE backline, but it is so far so good as we still remain goalless.
Borisov were a goal down already at this stage of their last Champions League outing, remember, so this has been an improved start. Roma, sporting their third kit for the first time this evening, have quietened down over the past couple of minutes.
Just half a chance for Gervinho, as Nainggolan looks to pick out his teammate from the right. The former Arsenal man could not quite react a couple of yards from goal, though, and the opening went begging.
GOAL! BATE BORISOV 1-0 ROMA (STASEVICH)
Well how about this! Roma have made a decent start to the game, but BATE have stunned them by going a goal ahead. It came at the end of their first real attack, which culminated in a real scramble as Gordeichuk struck the crossbar. The ball fell nicely for Stasevich to head home from a yard out, however, to put his side into a shock lead.
GOAL! BATE BORISOV 2-0 ROMA (MLADENOVIC)
WOW! Bate Borisov lead Roma by two goals inside the opening 12 minutes. It initially appeared as though Mladenovic's effort had taken a wicked deflection which had wrong-footed Szczesny, but the full-back simply put his foot right through it causing the ball to swerve one way and another from 30 yards out. It goes down as a Szczesny howler, though, with Roma now having it all to do.
A truly incredible start to this one. Roma actually started the better and it appeared as though Borisov's players were going to be in for another long night, but how about this... 2-0 up against Roma and in cruise control!
SHOT! Roma have not been able to create any chances since going a couple behind, with their best opening so far coming inside the opening few minutes when Gervinho could not quite get on the end of a cross from the left. Iturbe has just had a shot which Chernik easily kept out down the middle.
UPDATE! Bayer Leverkusen have taken a shock lead at the Nou Camp, just to make this crazy night in Group E a little crazier. A long way to go yet, of course, but as things stand Bayer top the group with six points, while BATE climb up to second on three points.
Roma seem to be finding a little more space across the pitch all of a sudden, without creating any real openings. Salah is the latest to try his luck from range, seeing his effort blocked behind for a corner.
SAVE! From that aforementioned corner, the ball was worked to Radja Nainggolan who let rip from 23 yards out. Chernik could only parry it aside, but that one appeared to be for the cameras more than anything else.
It is all pretty frantic at the moment, with the two teams taking it in turns to attack. Roma perhaps trying a little too hard to pull back a goal, when the best approach would be to slow things down a little and assert their authority on the contest.
YELLOW CARD! Milunovic is shown a yellow card for leaning in with he elbow. Lucas Digne was shown a booking in the aftermath of BATE's second goal, incidentally, so it is one apiece now in that respect.
Pjanic steps over a free kick around 30 yards from goal, with only one thing in his mind. The ball looks set for the bottom corner, but it just appeared to spin away at the last moment. Chernik had it well covered regardless.
Aleksandr Yermakovich will be delighted by what he has seen in these opening 30 minutes
GOAL! BATE BORISOV 3-0 ROMA (MLADENOVIC)
This is truly incredible! Belarussian minnows BATE Borisov now lead Roma 3-0 with a little over a third of the game played. It is Serbia international Mladenovic - a full-back by trade - who has helped himself to a second. Again serious questions have to be asked of Szczesny, who failed to keep out the belting effort following a surge into the box.
Roma are all over the place at the moment, just forcing things too much in attack and falling to bits at the back once their opponents mount at attack. Rudi Garcia needs half time in order to change things around drastically.
It should be mentioned again that Roma are without a few key players this evening, yet even still this is a group of players more than capable of seeing out this game with relative ease. The best the Italian side can hope for now is a point as we approach half time.
SAVE! A corner for BATE, but it could have been a fourth goal. Signevich got away a decent shot on goal which Szczesny was equal to on this occasion to push it behind. Roma appear to be ready to make an early change...
ROMA SUB! Vainqueur, making his Champions League debut for Roma this evening, is hauled off prior to half time. Falque is the man on in his place.
Falque almost makes an instant impact, chipping a ball into a central position for Gervinho. The ex-Arsenal forward could not quite get a shot away, though, and before a follow-up attempt could come in the offside flag was raised.
A decent Roma move to see out this half, which ends with Salah placing the ball wide of goal at the end of a quick passing move. Hardly a chance, but that is pretty much as good as things have got for the visitors so far. Hope for the second half, maybe?
Not a great deal of action over these past couple of minutes, as we enter the final minute of added on time. What a first half for the home side!
HALF TIME: BATE BORISOV 3-0 ROMA
Referee Mark Clattenburg brings an incredible opening 45 minutes to a close, with BATE Borisov leading Roma 3-0 at the break.
Roma made an encouraging enough start to things, knocking the ball around in advanced areas and looking to pick out Gervinho around the back, but it all fell apart as soon as Ihar Stasevich found a way through. The build-up to that opener was superb, but the goal itself was sloppy following a scramble inside the box.
Full-back Filip Mladenovic then doubled his side's advantage in rather bizarre circumstances, catching out Wojciech Szczesny with a simple enough effort to keep out pretty much down the middle. If that was not bad enough for the Serie A title chasers, the same player struck on the half-hour mark to make set up this incredible half-time scoreline.
BENCH WATCH!
BATE BORISOV SUBS: Soroko, Karnitski, Volodko, Rios, Aleksievich, Hleb, Jevtic
ROMA SUBS: De Sanctis, Castan, Maicon, Torosidis, Ucan, Soleri
Roma have already made one alteration this evening, bringing on Falque in place of Champions League debutant Vainqueur shortly before the break. I would not be at all surprised to see Rudi Garcia make another change at the break, because his side were poor in that first half.
BATE's players celebrate after going ahead against Roma at the Borisov-Arena
RESTART! We are back underway in Belarus, with Roma looking to overcome this three-goal deficit. There is news of another change to bring you from the break - Torosidis on in place of Iturbe.
YELLOW CARD! De Rossi is clearly up for the battle, but perhaps a little too much so - he earns a yellow for a foul on Signevich. The tone has been set as Borisov hold out for one of the great Champions League results.
Gordeichuk has got away the only shot of the half so far, as BATE continue to remain in a comfortable position. One goal from the Giallorossi will change the complexion completely, of course, but that looks as far away as ever right now.
CLOSE! Just as I say that, Roma close in on that much-needed opening goal. Florenzi's ferociously struck shot was heading right for the top corner of the net, but Dubra got his head in the way to ensure that a corner was the only reward for the visitors.
Torosidis goes on a galloping run through the middle, only for the return pass back to him being overhit. Roma certainly showing promising signs early on in this half, much like we saw in the opening 10 minutes of the first half.
I mentioned how Roma have looked promising in the opening 10 minutes of this half, yet BATE will be more than happy with the way things are going. The visitors are still not asking enough questions in terms of shots on goal, with Borisov in fact looking the better side in that department.
CHANCE! I'm not quite sure how this one isn't 4-0. A super chance - or chances - for BATE to just confirm the three points. The first of many counter-attacks sees Evgeni Yablonski's shot blocked by De Rossi inside the box. BATE had a man over, but they just pondered too long and allowed their opponents to get back in numbers.
An hour played now and still no goal for Roma. This is all very comfy for BATE as they continue to sit back on this three-goal advantage. Rudi Garcia may be preparing that third and final change now.
It has been a night to forget for Rudi Garcia and his players so far, as BATE celebrate their third of the match
SAVE! Falque has looked good since coming on at the end of the first half, and it his shot which very nearly gives Roma some hope. Chernik was down to make the stop with his legs, however, meaning that the wait for the Giallorossi's opener goes on.
GOAL! BATE BORISOV 3-1 ROMA (GERVINHO)
Now then. Gervinho pulls one back for a Roma side that have been knocking on the door for a while now. Falque was again the provider, slipping one through for the Ivory Coast international to calmly slot beyond Chernik.
It will be interesting to see how the Belarussian champions play this one now for the remainder. At 3-0 they were so comfortable just sitting back and mounting the odd counter. That will likely remain the same, but should Roma bag themselves a second then the panic will really begin to set in.
BATE BORISOV SUB! A first change of the evening for the hosts, and it sees the introduction of a familiar face as the experienced Aleksander Hleb replaces Gordejchuk.
Hleb is more of a defensive midfielder these days, so he will just sit in front of the back four for these final 17 minutes or so. The man he has replaced was playing right off Signevich up top, underlining BATE's plans for the remainder of this one.
CHANCE! A big opportunity for Salah to really put the pressure on the Belarussian side, but he was leaning back when the ball came to him just inside the area. The Egyptian should have been hitting the target at the very least, so that is a chance blown for the visitors.
UPDATE! A quick reminder than Barcelona are still trailing Bayer Leverkusen on home soil. Group E will certainly have a strange look about it should things remain the same.
Gervinho still trying to get in behind the BATE defence, but to no avail at the moment. It has paid off once already this half, and Roma are now playing far more patient football. They have just 11 minutes to find two more goals.
UPDATE! Barcelona have scored two quick-fire goals to lead at the Camp Nou, so the complexion of Group E has changed a little more once again. Plenty will happen between now and matchday six, of course, but result will feel as though BATE have won the whole competition.
GOAL! BATE BORISOV 3-2 ROMA (TOROSIDIS)
Roma have themselves a second, with a little under eight minutes left to play. Digne's ball from the left fell into the path substitute Torosidis, who managed to get the ball out from under his feet and fire home from close range.
OFF THE BAR! Incredible! BATE are living incredibly dangerously now, as Florenzi crashes an effort back off the bar just a minute after his side pulled back a second goal. Borisov have made another change to try to disrupt the flow.
BATE BORISOV SUB! We have four minutes left to play at the Borisov-Arena, which at this rate will be more than enough time for Roma to add a third goal. A much improved performance in this second half, as Volodko comes on for Nikolic.
YELLOW CARD! Manolas earns himself a yellow card, which only helps to disrupt play. Roma had so much momentum, yet that appears to have gone following a couple of subs and this latest stoppage.
SHOT! The clock appears to have stood still for BATE since Roma's second goal, but we have another four minutes left to play. Gervinho has had another pop at goal, which was simple enough for Chernik down the middle.
Nikolic has fired one well over the target from range, showing that BATE are not content to sit back. Roma now back on the ball and patiently working it forward.
ROMA SUB! Roma academy product Soleri is on for his Champions League debut in place of Florenzi. The Giallorossi have rolled the dice for once final time.
BATE remaining strong at the back and not allowing their opponents through, but a cross into the back post area did cause a hearts in mouths moment. The attacking move came to nothing, though, and that could very well be that.
FULL TIME: BATE BORISOV 3-2 ROMA
So there we have it - BATE Borisov hold out to claim all three points and pull one of this year's great Champions League shock results.
The Belarussian side raced into a three-goal lead inside 32 minutes, before the Giallorossi hit back late on. Ihar Stasevich opened the scoring for BATE and full-back Filip Mladenovic added two more, leaving strikes from Gervinho and Vasilis Torosidis as mere consolations come full time.
Well that's all from me for this evening, but be sure to stick around as we bring you reaction from each of this evening's fixtures from right across the continent.
