We’re dipping our toe into the showbiz world of the Champions League, and Kev’s predicting an upset in Belgium.
“Gent have lost four of their first six league matches, they have lost their best player, and they face a Dynamo side that just knocked out a very talented AZ team.”
Struggling hosts to slip again
Gent v Dynamo Kyiv
Wednesday 23 September, 20:00
Live on BT Sport 3
Less of a booby trap and more a Norrby trap last night, as the hosts Norrby let us down in a 1-0 defeat to Sundsvall, who had lost their last five matches in the Swedish Superettan. A tough one to take, but take it we must.
We target the glamour and glitz of the Champions League now, because Belgian side Gent are in action against Dynamo Kyiv in the qualifiers, and I believe we could see an upset.
Gent qualified by virtue of a second-place finish in the Pro League last term, but it’s been a difficult start to the season. The Buffaloes have lost four of their first six league matches, scoring just five goals in the process. Despite bringing in Heidenheim duo Niklas Dorsch and Tim Kleindienst, as well as experienced Anderlecht midfielder Sven Kums, the team has struggled to gel so far. The loss of star player Jonathan David to Lille was always going to have a negative impact. A 2-1 win over Rapid Vienna was a step in the right direction, but there’s an argument to say Lazslo Boloni’s side shouldn’t be favourites here.
Dynamo are coached by the vastly experienced Mircea Lucescu, and unlike Gent, they have made a strong start to their domestic campaign. They have taken seven points from their first three league games in Ukraine, and they caught the eye by beating a talented AZ team 2-0 in the previous round. Although their away record in the UCL is uninspiring (they haven’t won on the road since 2015), they have tended to get very tough draws, as Shakhtar usually win the domestic league.
I was very impressed by Dynamo’s win over AZ, and Gent are faltering. I’ll back the visitors Draw No Bet at [2.14].
Source: Betfair Champions League
