Cercle Brugge v Hearts: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Hearts have won two out of their three UEFA Conference League games this season and the Jambos could pick up another positive result when they face Cercle Brugge in Belgium.

The hosts made a magnificent start when hammering St Gallen early last month but have failed to win in successive games since, while Hearts were undone by Bundesliga opposition last time out.

Cercle Brugge v Hearts betting tips and predictions

Double Chance Draw or Hearts - 21/20

Hearts made an excellent start in the UEFA Conference League by defeating Dinamo Minsk away and Omonia at home and the Jambos will feel they could easily have taken something from the Tynecastle defeat to Heidenheim last time as they enjoyed the better of that game but conceded just before the hour and in the final minute.

Manager Neil Critchley, appointed last month, would also have major regrets over the weekend's 4-1 loss to Celtic. His side were excellent for 45 minutes but failed to reflect that on the scoresheet despite some good openings, and the champions were ruthless once they got in front early in the second half.

Hearts now head for the Jan Breydel Stadium in Belgium and they will know that a replication of the performance they were building against Celtic should stand them in good stead.

Cercle Brugge are struggling domestically and have lost successive Pro League games without scoring, adding to a scoreless draw at LASK in this competition.

Talented striker Kevin Denkey is suspended for the hosts after his red card in that game in Austria. He netted 27 times in the league last season and is into double figures for the club this season, including a hat-trick in the UEFA Conference League opener against St Gallen.

He is MLS-bound with FC Cincinnati in the New Year and his absence will be keenly felt here and should provide Hearts with some belief they can take a positive result back to Edinburgh.

Blair Spittal anytime goalscorer - 4/1

Ex-Motherwell winger Blair Spittal netted three times in as many games for Hearts last month, following up Scottish Premiership strikes against Aberdeen and St Mirren with a UEFA Conference League hit against Omonia in what was an impressive all round display from the 28-year-old.

He has gone six games without a goal since but there have been some difficult games, with an Edinburgh derby at Hibs, both of Glasgow's big two and Bundesliga side Heidenheim all faced in that sequence.

Lawrence Shankland's ongoing struggles to match the goalscoring form of recent seasons means Hearts are relying on goals from elsewhere and Spittal isn't afraid to have a pop when his mazy running style helps create some space in the final third.

Under 9 corners - 2/1

These teams have played six UEFA Conference League games between them and just once has the corner count gone above eight.

That came when Cercle Brugge routed St Gallen 6-2 in their opening game but, since that, the Belgian's two games have produced eight corners each.

Hearts opening win in Minsk produced seven corners, it was eight at home against Omonia and just six when Heidenheim visited Tynecastle. Under nine corners once again here looks a generous price.

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Cercle Brugge v Hearts odds

Cercle Brugge - 8/11
Draw - 27/10
Hearts - 15/4

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.