Hibs vs Legia Warszawa Prediction: 9/5 Nsame to net in fifth consecutive European outing

Hibernian began their European campaign in July, losing 3-2 on aggregate to FC Midtjylland in the Uefa Europa League qualifiers, and were subsequently relegated to the Uefa Conference League, where they beat Partizan Belgrade 4-3 over two legs to set up a play-off tie with Polish side Legia Warszawa.

The first leg takes place at Easter Road on Thursday (20:00 BST), and you can build up to the action in Edinburgh by checking out my Hibernian vs Legia Warszawa predictions down below.

Team News

Hibs made six changes to their starting XI in last Thursday's second leg against Partizan for their League Cup trip to Livingston on Sunday.

Austrian goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger and Zambian midfielder Miguel Chaiwa made their competitive debuts for the club in that 2-0 victory, but are both expected to drop down to the bench for the visit of Legia.

Football Odds

Jack Iredale, Jordan Obita and Martin Boyle should keep their spots, and are likely to be rejoined in the starting XI by Jordan Smith, Rocky Bushiri and Chris Cadden.

Jamie McGrath, meanwhile, could return from a knee injury, which has kept him out of Hibs' last two games.

Legia remain without Portuguese midfielder Claude Goncalves, who has missed the Polish side's last two matches with an unspecified injury.

However, former Leicester City winger Bartosz Kapustka is available after serving a one-game suspension in Legia's second-leg win against AEK Larnaca (2-1) last Thursday for two bookable offences against the same opposition seven days earlier.

Today's Football Fixtures

Rafal Augustyniak, Jean-Pierre Nsame and ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers wing-back Ruben Vinagre could all return to Edward Iordanescu's starting XI after dropping down to the bench at the weekend for the 1-0 Ekstraklasa defeat to Wisla Plock.

Hibs vs Legia Warszawa Odds

Hibs are 15/8 to win on Thursday, implying a 34.8% probability of success, while Legia are 13/10, or a 43.5% chance, to take a first-leg lead to Poland next week. The draw, meanwhile, can be backed at 12/5.

Kieron Bowie (7/4), who opened his European account against Partizan last week, heads the anytime goalscorer market, followed by Legia striker Nsame (9/5).

Price Boosts - Both Teams to Score, 11+ Corners & 4+ Goals @ 11/2 7/1

It's been an eventful start to the season for Hibs, who have scored plenty - they've found the net in all seven games, and exactly two in their last five (including extra time) - but have struggled at the back, conceding nine goals and keeping just two clean sheets.

Both teams have scored in all three of their home matches, and the latest two, a 3-2 extra-time defeat to Partizan and a 2-2 Premiership draw with Kilmarnock, have produced at least four goals.

Legia, meanwhile, have experienced a couple of high-scoring European away trips already this season, drawing 2-2 with Banik Ostrava in the Czech Republic on July 24 and losing 4-1 to AEK Larnaca in Cyprus on August 7.

Against Banik, 12 corners were taken in the match, and the same against AEK Larnaca.

Just seven corners were awarded in regulation time of Hibs' game against Partizan last week, but there were a whopping 17 taken in July when Midtjylland rocked up in Edinburgh. Furthermore, there were four goals and 11 corners in Hibs' Easter Road stalemate with Kilmarnock on July 10.

Considering all of the above, the 7/1 price boost for BTTS-Yes, 11+ corners and 4+ goals looks appealing.

Anytime Goalscorer - Jean-Pierre Nsame (LEG) @ 9/5

Nsame has been in red-hot form in Europe this season, netting home and away against Ostrava in Europa League qualifying, and doing the same against AEK Larnaca in the next round.

The 32-year-old and Legia have now dropped down to the Conference League play-offs, a stage where he has previously scored five goals in seven appearances.

Hibs were undone by Partizan striker Jovan Milosevic in the 44th minute at Easter Road last Thursday, and Nsame, who has struck in five of his last seven outings, looks primed to take advantage of a defence that has struggled already this season.

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