Gent vs Omonia Nicosia Predictions

• Gent won with a 2+ goal margin in both of their last two home clashes with Cypriot opponents.
• Omonia lost their only competitive game this season with a 2-0 scoreline.
• Omonia failed to win each of their last six Europa League away games.

Just 180 minutes stand between Gent and Europe

Having already began their domestic campaign with a four-game unbeaten run in the Jupiler League, Gent head into this Europa League play-offs as overwhelming favourites to at least take an advantage back to Nicosia, but can they deliver?

Well, the quality of opponents faced in their domestic league is arguably a cut above Omonia Nicosia, considering that the Belgian league sits considerably higher (13th) than that of Cyprus (21st) in UEFA’s country coefficient rankings.

Given the apparent gulf in class between leagues, the fact that Gent won their last two home games against Cypriot opponents by -1 handicap-busting scorelines and the advantage of playing at home, we’re backing the hosts to win this encounter by two or more goals.

Bus fare home for Neil Lennon

Neil Lennon has done a fine job so far at Omonia (W7, D7, L2), though this is arguably his toughest task yet as he looks to topple much stronger opponents than they’re used to playing in the Cypriot top flight.

The visitors are currently winless in six straight away Europa League games including qualifiers, with each of the last four defeats in that sequence seeing them concede at least twice.

We expect that trend to continue here with a smaller stakes selection going the way of a 3-0 home win, one which would likely give ex-Celtic boss Lennon too much to do in the return leg.