Vikingur Reykjavik vs Cercle Brugge KSV prediction: EUROPE: Conference League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-10-23 14:30.
[p]It’s bottom versus top in the 2024/25 UEFA Conference League as Víkingur Reykjavík host Cercle Brugge at Kópavogsvöllur, Kópavogur, away from their usual home venue. The Icelanders, who fought through two legs in the second qualifying, third qualifying and play-off rounds to reach the league stage of this competition, were only one goal behind up to the 80th minute in Omonia in the opening game, but conceded three times late on to go down 4-0.[/p]
[p]Fortunately for manager Arnar Gunnlaugsson, there are five further games to go in this stage and although his side are currently 36th, such is the format of this revamped competition, a top 24 spot is enough to advance to the next round. They also have a strong European record on Icelandic soil with one defeat from their last ten (W6, D3), and with this fixture being played less than 5km from their normal home, conditions shouldn’t be totally alien to them. [/p]
[p]Cercle Brugge scored three times in each half in their opening match of this stage to win 6-2 but since then finding the net has proved a struggle as they were defeated domestically 3-0 away at Antwerp and then followed it up with a goalless draw at home with Dender. Those results are the latest in a poor run of domestic form for the Belgians who have won only one of their last eight (D3, L4) in the Jupiler Pro League and sit one place off the bottom.[/p]
[p]European football has been a different story for Green and Black this season with their impressive win over St. Gallen in round one their fourth victory from seven games (D1, L2). Their recent continental fixtures have also been full of entertainment, with their last three matches (W2, L1) producing a combined 20 goals, which includes a 6-1 win in Poland against Wisła Kraków in their last away game.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Including qualifiers, captain Nikolaj Hansen has already scored four times in Europe this season including the opener and final goal for Víkingur in their last home game. Kévin Denkey failed to find the net in four UEFA Europa League qualifier appearances earlier this season but he has come to life in the Conference League with four goals and three assists from three matches![/p]
[p]Hot stat: Víkingur have scored twice from the 84th minute onwards in their last two games.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Tom Penn[/i][/p]