Kilmarnock v Cercle Brugge

Kilmarnock vs Cercle Brugge Preview

Kilmarnock will be searching for a third win on the trot in all competitions when they play host to Belgian visitors, Cercle Brugge, at their BBSP Stadium Rugby Park on Thursday night but this looks like being a tough assignment for the Scottish hosts despite holding home advantage in this 1st leg tie.

Kilmarnock have gained two wins on the trot in recent times in club friendlies by way of victories against Auchinleck Talbot 4-0 away from home and a crushing 5-0 home win against English League Two side, Barrow, but since the conclusion of the second phase in last season's Scottish Premiership campaign, Kilmarnock have also slipped to two defeats as well in warm-up games.

Losses in friendlies to Cerro Porteno and Ayr United suggest this upcoming clash against a strong Cercle Brugge outfit may well be too much for Derek McInnes' side especially as Killie have managed to collect just four wins from their last 10 matches in all competitions.

Experience at Europa League level is also very limited as Kilmarnock have played only six ties to date in this competition, picking up three wins, a draw and slipping to two defeats.

Cercle Brugge finished in fifth place in the Belgian First Division A table at the end of the regular season but ultimately achieved a fourth place finish at the end of the Championship Round stage which earned the visitors a place in the 2nd qualifying round of the Europa League.

Back-to-back wins against Genk and Antwerp towards the end of the second phase helped Cercle Brugge into a fourth place finish while the bigger picture shows the Belgian visitors have been handed just three defeats within their last 14 matches overall in all competitions along with picking up five wins in the process.

Results away from home have also been fairly solid as well, as Miron Muslic's side have suffered just the single defeat in their previous nine outings on the road which came in the shape of a 3-0 loss at Anderlecht but also includes collecting four wins within this period on their travels as well.

Cercle Brugge also possess very limited exposure to the Europa League competition having played just four ties overall to date which have resulted in two wins and two defeats; wins against TPS (away) and Anorthosis (home) have been offset by defeats home and away against the same opposition.

Kilmarnock v Cercle Brugge Verdict

Cercle Brugge have gained positive results in their pre-season games as they have recorded a 3-2 home win against AEK Larnaca along with holding Monaco to a 1-1 draw on the road as well, so the Belgian visitors look to hold the edge here.

Therefore, our main bet will be Cercle Brugge win @ 1.75

Other side bets worth considering:

Cercle Brugge win & Under 2.5 goals @ 4.75

Correct Score: Cercle Brugge 1-0 @ 8.50