- KAA Gent are unbeaten in 4 home matches in all competitions (Won 3, Drawn 1).
- Gent are the in-form side coming into the game (Won 3, Drawn 2) and score an average of 3.25 goals per game at home.
- Hibernian are in mixed form (Won 3, Drawn 1, Lost 1).
Hibs’ transition play is the key to this clash
KAA Gent come into Thursday's UEFA Conference League Qualification game as the clear betting favorite with the bookmakers at 1.55. Hibernian are at 6.1 to win the game while the draw is 4.1. The Both Teams To Score odds of 1.75 and Over 2.5 Goals at 1.72 look way too short to us for this matchup and we'll be avoiding both of those markets.
Rik De Mil has Gent playing with the ball in controlled possession where they want it, using their wing-backs to keep the width and keeping their press measured to stay compact and tidy. De Buffalo's should be able to control the tempo of this game as Hibs are likely to look for their best opportunities in transition, but Hibs are a punchy side and David Gray has them set up to be able to make a fast break, attack down the wings and press in the advanced positions.
Hyllarion Goore is the in-form player for Gent with 1 goal in 4 UEFA Conference League Qualification appearances and provides De Buffalo's with a targetman up top. Owen Elding has been Hibs' biggest threat in this competition with 2 goals in 4 matches, while Nathan Lowe has been a key performer for Gray's side of late with 3 of Hibs' 8 goals in their last 5 games.
Hibs will make this competitive
Gent have been in much better form than Hibs coming into this game, so we're surprised to see them as clear betting favourites in this one. Gent are the clear better team on paper and have been more consistent in their results over the past few weeks. De Mil's side are unbeaten in 4 at home and have scored 13 goals during that time.
Hibs' last 3 games resulted in a 2-1 home win over FK Shkendija 79 in UEFA Conference League Qualification, a 2-1 win away at Glasgow Rangers in the Premiership and a 0-0 draw with FK Shkendija 79. They are in good scoring form but have also proven susceptible to conceding goals, so we think this could be an end-to-end game that sees both teams scoring and 3 or more goals.
KAA Gent's overall form includes 5 wins, 4 draws and 1 defeat in their last 10 in all competitions, while Hibs have 5 wins, 1 draw and 4 defeats in their last 10, a sequence that is more lively but also inconsistent. Hibs have won 2 and lost 2 of their last 4 away games in all competitions but they are scoring 1.75 goals per game on their travels.
