Best Odds: 8/11
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Getting their Europa League qualifying adventure underway on Thursday night, Kilmarnock will welcome Cercle Brugge to Rugby Park.
Kilmarnock
Starting with the hosts, while Kilmarnock might have signed off the 2023/24 campaign by winning just one of their final five Premiership appearances, Derek McInnes’ camp did gain plenty of plaudits from across Scotland’s elite. Wrapping up a fourth-place finish and securing their most fruitful top-flight campaign since 2019, the former Aberdeen boss will be looking to mount a similar charge this time around. Excited to get their Europa League qualifying adventure underway on Thursday night, Killie will take plenty of positives from their pre-season preparations. Picking up some perfect momentum as they cruised their way to a routine 5-0 romp against English fourth-tier outfit Barrow, Kilmarnock have won three of their final four friendly showdowns. Knowing the importance of picking up a first-leg advantage here, McInnes’ side will certainly be backed by a vocal home support at Rugby Park.
Team News
Both completing respective summer moves to Rugby Park, the duo of Bruce Anderson and former Rangers goalkeeper Robby McCrorie will be hoping to make their first competitive starts on Thursday night. Getting their Europa League qualifying adventure underway in midweek, Kilmarnock have reported a clean bill of health.
Claiming Killie’s Golden Boot last season after notching 13 Premiership strikes, one-time Norwich striker Marley Watkins will spearhead McInnes’ attack here. Notching a pre-season brace against Barrow last week, 26-year-old Daniel Armstrong will also have a leading role to play.
Cercle Brugge
As for the visitors, also embarking on what was their own domestic flurry last season, Cercle Brugge find themselves in a very similar position to Thursday’s opponents. Clinching their own fourth-place finish among Belgium’s elite and breaking plenty of records, Miron Muslic’s men do appear to be a team on the rise. While Groen en Zwart might have recorded just a trio of victories from any of their final 10 Pro League appearances last season, they will be relishing a trip to Rugby Park on Thursday night. Opening their summer preparations with an action-packed 3-2 victory against Cypriot outfit AEK Larnaca, Muslic’s side will be hoping to find some defensive resolve. Despite playing out an eye-catching 1-1 stalemate against French giants Monaco on July 13th, Cercle Brugge have recorded just a sole clean sheet from any of their previous 13 appearances across all competitions.
Team News
Snapping up Sporting Lisbon youngster Nazinho this summer it was a reported €2million deal, the 20-year-old will make a full competitive debut on Thursday night and start at left-back. Likewise, fellow summer recruit and former Reims defender Ibrahim Diakite will also play a role at Rugby Park.
Reportedly attracting plenty of European interest over the past few weeks after notching 28 goals across all competitions last season, attacking talisman Kevin Denkey will have a leading role to play in Scotland. Featuring for Ecuador at this summer’s Copa America, 21-year-old Alan Minda will make a timely return here.
Key Factors to Consider
