HEARTS' miserable domestic season continued at the weekend, but they have held their own in the Europa Conference League and travel to Belgium this week to face Cercle Brugge.
In a curious schedule, Cercle Brugge host Hearts, while city neighbours Club Brugge travel to Celtic on Wednesday in the Champions League…who Hearts lost 4-1 to at the weekend.
But in their respective leagues, it's been a terrible campaign for both clubs.
Hearts sit second bottom although they have recovered somewhat under Neil Critchley and look more solid than they were at the start of the season. They matched Celtic in the first half, but fell apart after the break when the Hoops stepped it up.
And they have a real problem with scoring goals, caused by an over-reliance on a completely off-form Lawrence Shankland, who is now at one goal in 19 appearances for Hearts this season.
However, Cercle Brugge sit third bottom of the table after just four league wins from 15 this season. They have lost their last two league games including a 5-0 scudding by Anderlecht.
But they have experience of playing against Scottish opposition already this season when they narrowly eliminated Kilmarnock from the Europa League.
How the bookies view it: Hearts to be downed by a Cercle?
Home advantage sees Cercle as odds-on favourites at 8/11 with Ladbrokes. Hearts can be backed at 18/5 with Berfred. The draw is 14/5 with William Hill.
Recent head to heads: First meet
The clubs have never met before in European football.
Players to watch: Deadly Denky
Kevin Denky is the main man for Cercle Brugge and has already netted a hat-trick in this competition against St Gallen in a 6-2 win, He has already bagged 11 goals for the season and has just agreed a big money move to FC Cincinnati in the MLS, but can still play for the Belgians until the middle of next month. He is
Musa Drammeh made quite the impact with a stunning consolation goal against Celtic at the weekend. The Gambian forward is xx
Predicted line-ups
Cercle Brugge will be without the injured Christiaan Ravych, however, Edgaras Utkus and Senna Miangue are back to full fitness.
Hearts will be without the injured Calem Nieuwenhof.
Cercle Brugge: Delanghe, Miangue, Utkus, Nazinho, Kakou, Van Der Bruggen, Magnee, Agyekum, Somers, Denkey, Augusto
Hearts: Gordon, Oyegoke, Kent, Rowles, Penrice, Devlin, Boateng, Baningime, Forrest, Drammeh, Shankland.
Anything else catch the eye?
The draw stands out a mile here with neither side to be trusted judging them on their displays in their leagues so far this season.
Hearts do seem to play without pressure in Europe, but struggle for goals. Cercle Brugge are a model of inconsistency after scoring six past St Gallen and yet losing to Vikingur in Iceland.
There's not much between Hearts and Kilmarnock and the hosts only just edged out Killie at the start of the season. Hearts – backed by 3,124 fans – can claim the draw.
It's hard to see this being a classic either with Cercle Brugge failing to score in their last three matches and Hearts scoring one goal in three.
Back under 2.5 goals at evens with bet365.
This UEFA Europa League Conference match between Cercle Brugge and Hearts will be played on Nov 28, 2024 and kick off at 17:45. Check below for our tipsters best Cercle Brugge vs Hearts prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
