Cercle Brugge v Kilmarnock

Cercle Brugge vs Kilmarnock Preview

Cercle Brugge did their job in the 1st leg of this 2nd qualifying round Europa League tie away from home at Scottish Premiership side, Kilmarnock, as they held their opponents to a 1-1 draw at The BBSP Stadium Rugby Park in last week's encounter, while Kilmarnock may be rueing their missed chance to take a lead into this return leg in Belgium on Thursday night.

Cercle Brugge have produced a mixed bag of results in recent times as the Belgian hosts have managed to actually win just three of their last 12 matches in all competitions which came in the form of victories over Genk 4-1 and Antwerp 2-1 towards the end of last season's Belgian First Division A campaign, along with a pre-season friendly 3-2 home win against Cypriot outfit, AEK Larnaca.

Since that pre-season win, Cercle Brugge have been involved in 1-1 draws with Monaco (friendly) and Kilmarnock, while on the opening day of the new Belgian top flight season, Cercle Brugge slumped to a heavy 3-0 loss away from home at Westerlo.

However, the goals market looks appealing here as six out of Cercle Brugge's last 10 games overall have resulted in Over 2.5 goals.

Kilmarnock have not started their new Scottish Premiership campaign yet and the visitors had to make do with playing several pre-season friendlies before their first competitive match last week which resulted in the aforementioned 1-1 draw in the 1st leg against Cercle Brugge.

Since ending last season's domestic top flight season with a 1-1 draw with Dundee, Kilmarnock have played five pre-season friendlies which have yielded three wins but also two defeats as well.

Wins against The New Saints 5-0, Auchinleck Talbot 4-0 and Barrow 5-0 have been offset by losses at the hands of Cerro Porteno 2-0 and a 3-2 loss away from home at Ayr United, but goals have featured on a regular basis where Kilmarnock have been concerned.

Indeed, six of Kilmarnock's last 10 games overall have also resulted in Over 2.5 goals being scored and with the scores level at 1-1 heading into this decisive 2nd leg at Jan Breydelstadion on Thursday night, further goals look likely to unfold as both teams have everything to play for.

Cercle Brugge's last 10 home games have seen the hosts pick up four wins, three draws but also slip to three defeats.

Kilmarnock's last 10 away games have resulted in three wins, four draws and three defeats.

Cercle Brugge v Kilmarnock Verdict

With home advantage behind them, Cercle Brugge now look the more likely to progress through to the next qualifying round of this competition but expect a few goals in this one!

Therefore, our main bet will be Over 2.5 goals @ 1.61

Other side bets worth considering:

Cercle Brugge win & Over 2.5 goals @ 2.10

Correct Score: Cercle Brugge 2-1 @ 8.50