Cercle Bruggevs.Kilmarnock

After leaving Rugby Park on level terms, Cercle will try to make home advantage pay and set up a third-round clash with either Molde or Silkeborg.

Match preview

Despite failing to retain a lead earned by Kazeem Olaigbe's superb opening goal, Cercle Brugge came away from Scotland with a 1-1 draw that leaves them favourites to progress further towards the new-look Europa League group stage.

Kyle Vassell's headed equaliser after 70 minutes ultimately denied the Belgian club victory last week, amid heavy rain at an atmospheric Rugby Park, where head coach Miron Muslic was highly critical of the artificial playing surface.

Cercle remain winless in the early throes of the 2024-25 campaign, as they then made a slow start to the new Belgian Pro League season, being beaten 3-0 away to a Westerlo side that finished seven places below them last term.

Finishing fourth in the playoffs saw the Groen en Zwart secure entry to the Europa League qualifiers for just the second time, having only made it into Europe three times before.

On the first two occasions they fell at the first hurdle, and 14 years ago they exited in the second round of qualifying, so Muslic is now aiming to take his club closer than ever to a cherished group phase debut.

However, Kilmarnock's spirited comeback at Rugby Park leaves the clubs' second-round tie in the balance, and the Scottish side now plan to take more than 3,000 fans over to Belgium on Thursday.

The current Killie squad want to slay the ghost of a humbling first-round loss to Connah's Quay Nomads five summers ago, as they eye up progress to the third round, which would leave them just two steps away from the group stage.

Under Derek McInnes last season, the Ayrshire club secured a creditable fourth-placed finish in the Scottish Premiership, and a place in the Europa League qualifiers came along with it.

McInnes, who took the reins in January 2022, was named Manager of the Season and has since extended his contract until 2027, but perhaps his toughest test yet awaits at Brugge's Jan Breydel Stadium.

Cercle Brugge Europa League form:

D

Cercle Brugge form (all competitions):

W

L

D

L

D

L

Kilmarnock Europa League form:

D

Kilmarnock form (all competitions):

W

L

D

W

W

D

Team News

Miron Muslic made a handful of changes for Cercle's Pro League opener at the weekend, giving on-loan midfielder Lawrence Agyekum his debut and bringing both Boris Popovic and Brazilian striker Filipe Augusto into the starting XI.

Given his team's embarrassing defeat, though, former Ross County winger Kazeem Olaigbe may join Edgaras Utkus and Abdoul Quattara in returning to the lineup on Thursday evening.

Meanwhile, Derek McInnes could be tempted to introduce winger Fraser Murray, following an impressive substitute performance in the first leg.

Captain Kyle Vassell - who set up David Watson's goal at Rugby Park - is virtually assured of his place up front, but last term's top scorer Marley Watkins should be involved at some stage, having failed a late fitness test last week.

Former Rangers goalkeeper Robby McCrorie continues in goal after making his first competitive start for the club, but fellow new boy Bruce Anderson may have to make do with a place on the bench.

Cercle Brugge possible starting lineup:

Warleson; Ravych, Utkus, Daland, Nazinho; Van der Bruggen, Francis; Ouattara, Somers, Olaigbe; Denkey

Kilmarnock possible starting lineup:

McCrorie; Mayo, Wright, Findlay, Deas; Armstrong, Lyons, Donnelly, Watson, Kennedy; Vassell

We say: Cercle Brugge 2-0 Kilmarnock (Cercle Brugge win 3-1 on aggregate)

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