Gent host Norway's Molde at the GHELAMCO Arena in the Europa Conference League knowing only a win will take them through to the knockout stages of this year's competition.
Molde are sitting in second in Group F with one game to go, and if they are able to avoid defeat in Belgium they will advance through to the playoff round to face a third-placed Europa League group stage team.
Match preview
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Gent have given themselves it all to do in their final group game if they are to progress through to the knockout stages after being held in Dublin by Group F's bottom side Shamrock Rovers.
The hosts on that night scored their first goal of the group stage so far after just three minutes, with that Rory Gaffney strike putting the Belgian visitors immediately on the back foot and chasing a result many expected them to get with relative ease.
Luckily for Hein Vanhaezebrouck's side, their fate remains in their own hands going into the final game as they sit just two points behind Thursday's opponents Molde who occupy the final qualification position in the group.
South Korean Hong Hyun-Seok netted the equalising goal late on in Ireland last week and is enjoying an unfamiliar role in the forward line for Gent, with the 23-year-old providing six goal contributions in 12 appearances in the Belgian top flight this campaign.
Molde's faint hopes of topping the group ended on matchday five as they lost 3-2 at the Aker Stadion to fellow Scandinavians Djurgardens, who will now finish first no matter the results this week.
Erling Moe's men started superbly and were up 2-0 after just 21 minutes, but a remarkable comeback from the visitors which was completed by a 77th-minute winner from Bosnian Haris Radetinac stole all the points on the night, leaving the Norwegian side with work to do to ensure qualification.
With a first Eliteserien title since 2019 wrapped up, Molde will be desperate to have some European football to play in early 2023 and the Europa Conference League is seen as a real opportunity for the club to advance to the latter stages of a continental competition.
Only needing a point out of Thursday's game, Molde may decide to sit deep and rely on their defensive work, something that has served them well in their domestic league this season, having only conceded 23 times in 28 outings, eight fewer than any other team in the division.
Team News
Gent's leading goalscorer Hugo Cuypers was rested when they travelled to Shamrock Rovers last week, but with qualification on the line here he is expected to regain a place in the starting XI at the expense of veteran Laurent Depoitre.
Midfielder Elisha Owusu is a doubt for Thursday evening after picking up a knock in Gent's 1-1 draw with OH Leuven, with Vadis Odjidja-Ofeo likely to take his place.
Datro Fofana bagged a brilliant brace against Viking on the weekend for Molde and should be rewarded with a spot in the starting XI for this decider at the GHELAMCO Arena.
There are no fresh injury concerns for head coach Moe to deal with, but there are still a host of long-term absentees for the Norwegian side such as Eirik Ulland Andersen and Bjorn Sigurdarson.
Gent possible starting lineup:
Nardi; Okumu, Ngadeu-Ngadjui, Godeau; Samoise, Odjidja-Ofeo, Kums, Nurio; Hjulsager, Hong, Cuypers
Molde possible starting lineup:
Petersen; Bjornbak, Haugan, Risa; Knudtzon, Grodem, Hussain, Bakke, Lovik; Eriksen, Fofana
We say: Gent 2-1 Molde
Gent will be frustrated after being forced to share the points with Shamrock Rovers last week and should be very motivated to secure the win required to qualify for the knockout stages.
Molde know they only need a draw to advance the next round of the Europa Conference League, but after a capitulation at home to Djurgardens last week the occasion may get the better of the Norwegian side once again in this crucial match in Belgium.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
