Cercle Bruges suffered a chastening start to the new Belgian Pro League season as they were beaten 3-0 away to Westerlo four days before Kilmarnock’s visit on Thursday.
Miron Muslic’s side will consider themselves favourites to progress to the Europa League third qualifying round after leaving Rugby Park with a 1-1 draw in the first leg.
But they will be smarting from their defeat by a side who finished 11th – seven places below them – in their domestic league last season.
The home side, with Scotland Under-21 winger Dire Mebude starting on his return from last season’s loan spell with Bristol City, went ahead after 18 minutes through Lucas Stassin.
The striker added his second 10 minutes after the break and then set up fellow forward Allahyar Sayyadmanesh just after the hour mark.
Muslic had handed on-loan Red Bull Salzburg midfielder Lawrence Agyekum his debut, while defender Boris Popovic and striker Filipe Augusto also came into the starting line-up.
Former Ross County winger Kazeem Olaigbe, who scored Cercle’s goal in Ayrshire, Lithuania midfielder Edgaras Utkus and forward Abdoul Quattara had all dropped to the bench but came on as substitutes shortly before Westerlo’s third goal.
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