Hibs will look to overturn a two-goal deficit at Easter Road on Thursday night as they play host to Kosovan side Malisheva in the second leg of their Conference League second-round tie.
David Gray’s men travelled to Pristina as favourites to take back a first-leg lead to Easter Road, but in typical Scottish fashion, they were left embarrassed on the continent.
Kreshnik Uka gave the Kosovans the lead after 21 minutes last week, before Valmir Nafiu grabbed a potentially crucial second goal in the 90th minute.
Hibs fans were visibly frustrated and angered by their team's performance after the final whistle in the Kosovan capital last week – and they must now do something they’ve never done in Europe before: overturn a two-goal deficit.Should they do so, they will face either NK Bravo or FK Shkendija in the next qualifying round.
How the bookies view it: Hibs still favourites to progress
Despite having a two-goal deficit to overcome, Hibs are still slight 4/5 favourites to progress to the next round, with the win on the night inside 90 minutes paying just 1/5.
Malisheva are 19/20 To Qualify, whilst the win in regulation time is priced at a massive 12/1.
Head to head: Hibs revenge?
Malisheva’s 2-0 win over Hibernian in Pristina last Thursday is the only previous meeting between these two clubs.
Players to watch: Uka to cause more problems for Hibs backline?
Hibs will no doubt have to keep tabs on Kreshnik Uka, who scored the opening goal in Pristina last week before setting up the second.
That’s now three goals and two assists in two matches for the Kosovan, but like last week, no goal-scorer markers are available at the time of writing.
Predicted line-ups:
Hibs will be without the injured Rocky Bushiri and Nicky Cadden, whilst Jamie McGrath faces a late fitness test.
Malisheva are expected to name a similar lineup to the one that started last week’s first leg victory.
Hibernian: Sallinger, O’Hora, Hanley, Obita, Passlack, Newell, Mulligan, Chaiwa, Mayor, Boyle, Lowe
KF Malisheva: Avdyli, Skovgaard, Kryeziu, Shani, Veliu, Vitija, Ferati, Xhylani, Iskenderli, Uka, Ibishi
Anything else catch the eye?
Despite being short-priced favourites last week, I correctly advised not backing Hibs in Pristina, but I do think they can overturn that two-goal deficit and progress to the next round.
However, things are rarely ever straightforward for Scottish sides in Europe, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the visitors got on the scoresheet.
Both Teams to Score pays an appealing 1/1 at bet365, whilst Over 3.5 Goals is slightly larger at 11/10.
Interested in why both teams scoring is such a strong angle? Check out our Masterclass on BTTS and sharpen your match-reading game.
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