- Team form: KuPS Palloseura have drawn their last 2 games and look to be tough to beat but without enough cutting edge to take all 3 points.
- Favorites: KAA Gent are the clear favorite and in the better overall form having won 3 of their last 5 matches (L2).
- Conference form: KuPS are winless in the UEFA Conference League (UCL) league phase while Gent have 3 points from 2 matches.
Gent are the classier outfit
Tactical battle
KuPS and KAA Gent are very different teams and will try to impose very different styles on this UEFA Conference League League Phase 2026-2027 matchup in Finland. Miika Nuutinen's side, who have been under his direction since 1 January 2026, are a compact, counter-attacking team that like to get wide and run. Rik De Mil's men, for whom he took the helm on 10 December 2025, are a more possession-based side, but with the ability to create overloads wide via their wing-backs, which should give them a chance to dominate the ball and territory.
KuPS resilience
That is not to say that KuPS will simply roll over on Thursday, however. They are a solid side who have been in mixed form, winning 1, drawing 2 and losing 2 of their last 5. They have won and drawn their two most recent home games and will make life tough for the visitors at Savon Sanomat Areena.
KuPS can make life difficult for Gent
The KuPS fans will have been happy with their side's resilience in their recent games, but there is no denying that they are missing a clinical touch. They lost 2-0 away to FK Borac Banjaluka, drew 2-2 with HJK Helsinki away from home and were tied 1-1 by IF Gnistan Helsinki at home.
Gent have also had some mixed results recently, although they will feel the standard of their performances has been high. A 3-3 draw away to Union Rochefortoise, after they were taken to a penalty shootout but lost on penalties, was followed by a 2-0 defeat away to SC Braga before they turned it on in a 4-0 home win over Anderlecht.
Betting advice
There is a clear favorite in this matchup and that is Gent at 1.56, but we feel KuPS will make it interesting and can be backed at 5.4. The draw is available at 4.1, but we will pass on that and go for a tight Gent win.
- Gent are yet to record an away win in the UEFA Conference League league phase (D0, L1), but they have also failed to score in that only game.
- KuPS have conceded four times in their only home game so far, so the unders at 1.95 looks a bit better than even money while Both Teams to Score is good at 1.87.
Top performers
Jaime Moreno has been a good find for KuPS with the striker scoring 2 of his side's 4 goals in the last 5 games. He offers them the real chance of scoring against the run of play, which could prove crucial in this fixture.
Tiago Araujo is Gent's chief creative spark, contributing 3 assists to his team's 10 goals in their last 5 fixtures. He is a reliable delivery outlet from wide areas and will no doubt trouble the home team's defence.
