Table-topping UEFA Conference League favourites Brighton look to keep up a superb run of form as they travel to face Jablonec, who were beaten by another competition heavyweight on matchday one.
Match News and Current Form
Jablonec were arguably handed the Conference League’s two toughest fixtures to start, and though they were competitive on matchday one, a 3-2 defeat to Freiburg puts them on the back foot ahead of this clash. Their challenge to progress from a European group/league phase for the first time is therefore a steep one, and morale was hardly improved by a 3-2 defeat to Plzeň in domestic action at the weekend. A return home should stoke the fire for Jablonec, who won all three Conference League qualifiers they hosted this term without conceding and are unbeaten in seven European games on their own turf (W5, D2).
Even the most optimistic Brighton fans would have struggled to envisage the incredible start they've made to the season, as Sunday’s 5-0 thrashing of rivals Crystal Palace was a sixth successive win. Those victories have come by a 22-2 combined score, with their 4-0 demolition of Kauno Žalgiris on matchday one placing them on top of the early standings. Fabian Hürzeler’s men appear unlikely to be stopped given that they’ve won six of their last seven matches in major European competition (L1), keeping a clean sheet in each victory. The sole defeat came on their last such trip against Roma (4-0), but Brighton are now looking to win four successive competitive away matches for the first time since April 2016.
Head-to-Head History
This will be the first H2H, and also the first time either has faced a team from the other’s nation.
Hot Stats and Streaks
Five of Jablonec’s last six home games produced an odd number of goals.
Jablonec have scored before half-time in five of their seven European matches this season.
Twelve of Brighton’s last 14 competitive away games produced over 9.5 corners.
Brighton have conceded just once after half-time in their 12 games this term.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Garang Kuol has scored in the 90th minute or later in his last two substitute appearances for Jablonec, while two of his last three senior strikes have come after the hour mark in the league phase of this competition. Charalampos Kostoulas has five goal involvements in his last five Brighton appearances (G4, A1), with the last three of his strikes coming between the 40th and 50th minute.
Lamin Jawo has missed Jablonec’s last two matches, as has Pascal Struijk for Brighton.
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Betting Analysis
Value will be hard to find here, so perhaps a combination of Brighton to win without conceding and over 9.5 corners could provide some return.
Author: Ryan Fisher