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Kilmarnock will invite Cercle Brugge to Rugby Park in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round on Thursday. The hosts are back in a UEFA competition for the first time since the 2019-20 season and the visitors will play for the first time since the 2010-11 campaign.
The hosts will play their first competitive match of the season and won three of their five friendlies in the pre-season. They registered a 5-0 win over Barrow, a fourth-tier side, in their final pre-season game last week.
The visitors will also play their first competitive match of the season. They enjoyed an unbeaten run in the pre-season and, after a 3-2 win over AEK Larnaca in their first friendly, they played out a 2-2 draw against Monaco earlier this month.
Kilmarnock vs Cercle Brugge Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- The two teams will meet for the first time.
- The hosts have met Belgium teams four times thus far, with both meetings taking place in the erstwhile 1966-67 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. They have a 100% record in these games. scoring 11 goals while conceding just thrice.
- The visitors have seen conclusive results in their eight games in European competitions, with four wins and losses each.
- Kilmarnock have seen under 2.5 goals in five of their six games in Europa League qualifiers, keeping two clean sheets and failing to score in two games as well.
- Cercle Brugge have lost three of their four away games in the UEFA qualifiers.
- The hosts had just one win in their last five competitive games in the 2023-24 campaign.
- The visitors, meanwhile, had just two wins in their last eight games in the 2023-24 season.
Kilmarnock vs Cercle Brugge Prediction
Killie won three of their four friendlies in July, scoring at least four goals in each of these wins, and they will look to build on that form. They have just one win in their last four home games in European competitions, failing to score in two, and might struggle here.
Groen en Zwart will play for the first time in 14 years in UEFA competitions and will look to leave a good account of themselves. They have scored at least once in six of their eight games in European competitions and are expected to find the back of the net here.
Both teams play in a UEFA competition after a long time and are playing their first competitive match of the season, so, they might be a bit rusty. There's nothing much to separate the two teams, and a draw is likely to ensue.
Prediction: Kilmarnock 1-1 Cercle Brugge
Kilmarnock vs Cercle Brugge Betting Tips
Tip 1: Result - Draw
Tip 2: Goals - Over/Under 2.5 Goals - Under 2.5 goals
Tip 3: At least one goal to be scored in the second half - Yes
Tip 4: Marley Watkins to score or assist any time - Yes
