Jagiellonia vs Cercle Brugge KSV prediction: EUROPE: Conference League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2025-03-05 20:00.
[p]After missing out on automatic passage to the UEFA Conference League last 16 by virtue of goal difference alone, reigning Polish champions and current title chasers Jagiellonia ultimately sailed through the play-off round, winning both legs against TSC 3-1. Those victories have ensured that this is already Jagiellonia’s strongest European campaign in club history as Adrian Siemieniec’s men meet Belgian opponents for only the third time. [/p]
[p]History suggests this will not be easy for Jagiellonia, who lost both legs while being dumped out of a Europa League qualifier against Gent in 2018 in their only prior tie against a Belgian side. European form goes against that tie, as Jagiellonia remain unbeaten at home in the Conference League this season (W3, D1), a run which includes three clean sheets and all victories coming by multi-goal margins. [/p]
[p]Finishing the league phase above Jagiellonia and advancing straight to the round of 16, Cercle Brugge arrive in Poland on the back of a six-match winless run (D5, L1). That leaves Ferdinand Feldhofer’s men at risk of dropping into their domestic relegation group, so they will hope a return to what is already their best European campaign to date can inspire a turnaround.[/p]
[p]Given that their only prior tie against Polish opposition came in the qualification play-off this season, which included a 6-1 away first leg win over Wisła Kraków, Cercle may be quietly confident of overturning their outsider status. Their travelling results in this competition have often been exciting too, with three of their four such trips seeing both teams score and over 2.5 goals. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Jagiellonia’s Afimico Pululu remains a contender for the Conference League top-scorer accolade (G6), with four of his five scoring appearances in this competition seeing him net the team opener. Cercle’s Gary Magnée has directly contributed to four goals in seven Conference League matches this season (G3, A1), with all three of those strikes coming after half-time.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: There have been at least two goals in the opening 20 minutes, and 2+ goals in both halves of three of Cercle’s last four Conference League away games (W2, D1, L1). [/p]
[p][i]Written by Matthew Billon[/i][/p]