Breidablik vs Gent prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-11-08 20:00.
Icelandic club Breiðablik qualified for the group stages of a UEFA competition for the first time at the 11th attempt, but have found the going tough in their maiden Europa Conference League (UECL) campaign. They are bottom of Group B after three straight defeats, including a 5-0 thrashing last time out at the hands of Gent, their joint-worst defeat in European competition.
That loss made it an eighth defeat across nine competitive matches (W1), conceding at least three goals in four of those games. Halldór Árnason’s men will hope to turn things around at home, where they have been slightly better with five wins across their last eight home matches in UEFA competitions (L3), with the last three such games ending 1-0.
Gent’s recent form could shatter that record though, as the Belgians followed victory in the reverse fixture with three straight wins in domestic competitions, each by a 3-1 scoreline. That form could be pivotal in extending their unbeaten start (W2, D1) to this UECL campaign, which is likely to nudge them closer to a third knockout berth in as many seasons.
The visitors find themselves five points off the pace in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League title race, so advancing in Europe could serve as a welcome morale booster. Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s side therefore need to continue their form on the road where back-to-back competitive away successes halted a winless five-game away run (D4, L1). The concern though is that they haven’t travelled well in Europe, as the Buffalos have won just three of their last 12 away UECL games (D3, L6).
Key battle: Höskuldur Gunnlaugsson struck a decisive goal in the UECL qualifiers this season, but the Breiðablik defender could be tasked with halting Tarik Tissoudali, who is in cracking form for Gent. He’s scored five goals over his last four competitive games, including a first-half strike in the reverse fixture where he also assisted once.
Hot stat: Breiðablik have seen the half-time result replicated at full-time in 12 of their last 13 matches in UEFA competitions.