Club Brugge KV vs Besiktas prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-09-20 19:00.
After five straight seasons of competing in the UEFA Champions League, Belgium’s Club Brugge find themselves in the UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) for the very first time. They needed to go through three rounds of qualification to land themselves in Group D (W4, D1, L1), where their experience of playing in Europe’s premier club competition likely gave them the advantage.
The Blue-Blacks will next be looking to convert that fine qualification record and flex their muscles in the competition proper after losing just twice in their 12 games this season (W8, D2) They’ve also displayed their resolve against Turkish sides when continental duties have come calling previously, losing just two of nine such encounters (W3, D4) which bodes well here ahead of the visit of Beşiktaş.
One of those losses came in a 2006/07 UEFA Cup Group game against Beşiktaş, who then surrendered the H2H upperhand by losing both legs of their 2014/15 UEFA Europa League Round of 16 tie against their hosts. The away side’s history against Club Brugge and their compatriots isn’t exactly favourable overall either, having won only twice in eight games against teams from Belgium (D3, L3).
The Black Eagles have displayed the kind of form needed to improve that record recently, even if an uncharacteristic 3-0 defeat to Trabzonspor last time out brought an end to what was a 24-game unbeaten streak prior (W20, D4). Wrapped up in that lengthy run was their flawless journey to securing their spot in this season’s UECL after winning each of their six matches in qualifying finally ended their three season hiatus from European competition group stages.
Players to watch: Club Brugge will be hoping that Andreas Skov Olsen continues his form of scoring seven goals in his last seven games as he’s avoided defeat in his last 30 goalscoring outings at club level. After scoring in all but one of their UECL qualification matches, Beşiktaş will be looking to their own goal scoring machine Vincent Aboubakar to be their X-factor with eight of his last ten club goals coming away from home.
Hot stat: Seven of Club Brugge’s last eight games have seen both teams score.