- Gent form: KAA Gent have won 3 and drawn 2 of their last 5 matches.
- Hibs form: Hibernian FC have won 3, drawn 1, and lost 1 of their last 5 games.
- Home form: KAA Gent are unbeaten in 4 home games across all competitions, winning 3 and drawing 1.
KAA Gent have some Belgian swagger
Match outlook
KAA Gent have a few more swaggers in their step than their Scottish visitors to Ghelamco Arena on Thursday night and it is likely that De Buffalo's will win this UEFA Conference League Qualification 2nd qualifying round clash with the Edinburgh club. Gent are a good footy team with a clear identity – possession, width from the wing-backs, a controlled press and plenty of compactness. Rik De Mil's men have won 3 and drawn 2 of their last 5 with their slip-ups including a 1-1 draw against IFK Goteborg.
Hibs response
David Gray's Hibs team is a far more unpredictable outfit than Gent, but the visitors have enough quality to make this a competitive match-up. Hibs have won 3, drawn 1 and lost 1 of their last 5 and should be able to press Gent into mistakes and cause problems when they can play their punchy transition game.
Hibs are a bigger threat in transition
Recent results
Hibs' last three games have been a 2-1 home win over FK Shkendija 79 in UEFA Conference League Qualification, a 2-1 away win at Glasgow Rangers in the Premiership and a 0-0 draw with the Macedonian club. They have won 2 and lost 2 of their last 4 on the road, but average 1.75 goals per game away from home across all competitions.
Tactical matchup
Gray sets Hibs up to play a faster-paced game than Gent with more directness from wide areas and a more aggressive, advanced pressing system. This clash of styles should see Gent controlling the tempo and Hibs trying to pounce on them in transition, so midfield control will be the key to the match.
Betting angle
KAA Gent should win this game, but the odds are still tight enough for us to have a flutter on Hibs in the double chance market at 6.1, as there is a feeling this game will be closer than the odds suggest.
Key players
- Hyllarion Goore leads the way for Gent in UEFA Conference League Qualification with 1 goal in 4 appearances – not an abundance of goals, but certainly enough to give them a focal point and an edge in the forward line.
- Owen Elding is Hibs' top threat in UEFA Conference League Qualification with 2 goals in 4, while Nathan Lowe has scored 3 of his side's 8 goals in their last 5.
