‘A Killie win in Bruges would lift 2019 hoodoo’

A Kilmarnock win against Cercle Bruges in the second leg of their Europa League qualifying tie would help lift a “hoodoo” from the club, according to Laurie Finlayson from The Killie View podcast.

In their last European campaign in 2019, Killie were knocked out by Welsh part-timers Connah’s Quay Nomads following an embarrassing 2-0 defeat at Rugby Park.

This time around, Derek McInnes’ side head to Belgium with the tie delicately poised following a 1-1 draw in the first leg, and Finlayson believes Killie can upset the odds and move a step closer to the competition’s group stages.

“It would be massive for the club and massive for the town,” Finlayson said on the BBC’s Scottish Football Podcast.

“On the football side, kind of takes away that hoodoo from 2019 really, doesn’t it? Where we were the butt of all jokes in Scottish football, losing to Connah’s Quay Nomads of the Welsh Premier League.

“Welsh Premier League to Belgian Premier League, there’s no real comparison there.

“To get into what would be the third qualifying round of the Europa League would be incredible and even if we don’t, it’s not the end of the world because obviously we’ve got the Conference League to fall back on.

“Plus we’ve done ourselves proud against this quality of opposition so we’re just happy to be here but it’s not just that, we are competing as well and fingers crossed we can get it over the line tonight and possibly chase a trip to Scandinavia.”