Club Brugge KV vs Lugano prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-11-08 20:00.
Unbeaten Club Brugge (W2, D1) top Group D of the 2023/24 UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) but saw a three-match winning run ended at the weekend by Royale Union SG (L 2-1), as their disappointing league campaign continued. Europe’s been a happier hunting ground as they haven’t lost any of their last seven UECL fixtures (W5, D2), culminating in matchday three’s 3-1 win over Lugano.
Manager Ronny Deila will expect an improved performance after calling Sunday’s effort “not worthy of the club”, knowing the Blue-Blacks have only ever lost once at home to Swiss opposition (W5), with four of those victories seeing the Belgians net exactly twice. Yet to taste defeat in a UECL home game this term (W2, D2), a win here would all but qualify them for the knockouts.
Like their hosts, Lugano occupy a mid-table domestic league position, and although only outside the top two in the UECL group on goal difference (W1, D1, L1), one win across their last six competitive matches (D1, L4) suggests this could be a struggle. Having already been dumped out of UEFA Europa League qualifying by Royale Union (L2) in August, they’ve suffered badly at the hands of Belgian clubs this term.
However, their 3-2 win at BeĹźiktaĹź on matchday two will keep hopes alive of a first ever European win over Belgian opponents (L3), particularly as victory in Turkey was their first on foreign soil in Europe since December 2017. Scoring in each of their last eight competitive away fixtures (W4, L4) should also offer the Black and Whites encouragement as they head north.
Players to watch: Hans Vanaken has been Brugge’s star man in Europe this term as he’s netted in all three of their UECL group games, twice after the 75th minute, while Shkelqim Vladi scored after the 70th minute in both of Lugano’s last two UECL fixtures.
Hot stat: Lugano have scored an average of 1.38 goals per game after the 70th minute across their last eight competitive away games.