KAA Gent faces a decisive European task in the second leg against Hibernian in Edinburgh. Coach Rik De Mil stressed in an interview on the club's website that details will make the difference in the battle for a place in the Conference League group stage. Last week's first leg in Ghent ended in a 0-0 draw, meaning the Buffalos must score on Thursday to progress.
The team travelled to Scotland on Wednesday for the match at Easter Road, which kicks off at 20:45 and is broadcast live on AVS. De Mil gave his analysis ahead of the trip, as reported by avs.be. Gent are enjoying an excellent start to their domestic season, currently sitting third in the Jupiler Pro League with nine points from three games. They have scored six goals and conceded only two.
What does De Mil expect from Hibernian?
De Mil provided a clear picture of the opposition. He described Hibernian as a team that concedes few goals, is very stable, and has quality in attack. The Scots are also strong from set-pieces. The Gent coach anticipates a fantastic atmosphere in the packed stadium. "We mogen hier een geweldige sfeer verwachten, die Hibernian een duwtje in de rug zal geven." he said.
That atmosphere could also create opportunities for his own team, according to De Mil. If Hibernian are forced to attack, spaces could open up behind their defence for Gent to exploit. It will be up to the visitors to be alert and capitalise on those moments. Their current league form, with three consecutive wins, provides confidence that they can do so.
How must Gent improve from the first leg?
The coach was clear about the areas for improvement after the home draw. Efficiency must increase. Gent created chances in the first match but failed to convert them. Additionally, their play needs to be faster and more creative. "We zullen creatiever en efficiënter moeten zijn en de bal sneller moeten laten circuleren," stated De Mil.
He hopes to see a difference in effectiveness compared to the first meeting. The team simply must deliver a better performance than they did a week ago at home. The absence of two key players complicates the mission. Hyllarion Goore and Matisse Samoise are currently sidelined and will miss the match, limiting De Mil's options. The current squad situation can be followed on our squad page.
What does this match mean for Gent's schedule?
The European challenge comes amid a busy and successful start to the season. After returning from Scotland, Gent face another league match almost immediately. On Sunday, they host 17th-placed OH Leuven at the Ghelamco Arena. That match is vital to maintain their position close to leaders Charleroi, whom they trail by three points.
The full schedule, including this important home fixture, can be found on our fixtures page. The focus now is entirely on Thursday. De Mil called the task difficult but expressed confidence in his squad. The combination of strong league results and the need to score in Europe makes for an exciting period for the club. Their standing in the Jupiler Pro League, where Gent are performing solidly, provides a firm foundation for this European test. Fans can always check the current league table via the standings.
