Summary

  • Watch BBC Scotland coverage via the tab at top of the page

  • Kazeem Olaigbe fires the Belgians in front with a great strike

  • David Watson levels with header, meeting flick from Kyle Vassell

  • Vassell grazes the woodwork with a looping header, Fraser Murray shot saved in stoppage time

  • St Mirren miss numerous good chances in their first European tie in 37 years

  • Boyd-Munce off with an early injury

  1. Cercle boss laments Rugby Park pitchpublished at 19:14 British Summer Time 25 July

    Kilmarnock v Cercle Bruges (19:30)

    Miron MuslicImage source, SNS

    If you squint your eyes at this picture, you'll see the Rugby Park pitch living rent free in Miron Muslic's mind.

    The Cercle Bruges head coach has been critical of Kilmarnock's surface, saying it's "in very bad condition".

    Speaking to the media in his press conference, the Austrian made several references about the artificial turf before he was directly asked about it.

    "That’s something we cannot control," he said. "I cannot put too much energy into this.

    "Of course it’s new and challenging, and also the pitch is in very bad condition. It’s not a new artificial pitch, it’s just an old one.

    "We have one team in our [league], St Truiden, who play on an artificial pitch, so we face them there once a year. The last two games we won 1-0 and 2-0, so hopefully this is a good omen."

  2. Who are Cercle Bruges?published at 19:11 British Summer Time 25 July

    Kilmarnock v Cercle Bruges (19:30)

    Fourth place in last season's Belgian Pro League, three years after being relegated, has ended Cercle's 14-year absence from European competition.

    They have only won once in four European ties in total, beating Finnish side Turun Palloseura on away goals.

    Miron Muslic has been head coach for almost two years and has won 33 of his 74 games in charge and thinks his side have achieved "something beautiful".

  3. Postpublished at 19:07 British Summer Time 25 July

    Miron MuslicImage source, SNS

    Swear on first glance I thought this was Danny Armstrong.

    It's not, obviously. It's Cercle Bruges boss Miron Muslic.

  4. 'I had a dream we played Chelsea in the final'published at 19:05 British Summer Time 25 July

    Valur v St Mirren (19:45)

    Andy Burke
    BBC Sport Scotland in Iceland

    St Mirren fansImage source, SNS

    I've been chatting to some St Mirren fans out in Reykjavík this afternoon and it's fair to say they're feeling pretty confident.

    Here are some of their best lines:

    "I'm confident. We'll gub them."

    "I can’t see anything but us winning, we’ve just got to. I’m going for it, 2-0 St Mirren."

    "I genuinely never thought this would happen because it’s been so long. It’s an absolute dream, bucket list stuff, and I cannot wait."

    "Hopefully the team turns up and does Paisley and everybody that is here proud. Let's go!"

    "Bubbles burst sometimes but let’s hope this one keeps floating up the way. We’re living the dream."

    "I’m so pleased at my age of 73 that we’re getting one more shot at Europe. I had a wee dream that it was Chelsea in the final and we're all going!"

  5. Watkins failed fitness testpublished at 19:02 British Summer Time 25 July

    Kilmarnock v Cercle Bruges (19:30)

    Kenny Crawford
    BBC Sport Scotland at Rugby Park

    Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes has just told us that Marley Watkins failed a late fitness test for tonight's first leg.

    McInnes says the striker should be fine for next Thursday in Bruges.

  6. How to followpublished at 19:01 British Summer Time 25 July

    BBC micImage source, SNS

    We've got you covered on TV, radio and text.

    Watch build-up and all the action at Rugby Park from 19:15 BST.

    Before then you can tune into Sportsound, which starts right now - the team will provide updates of tonight's games.

    You'll find both by clicking on the 'watch & listen' tab at the top of this page.

  7. Couldn't leave the selfie stick at homepublished at 18:59 British Summer Time 25 July

    Valur v St Mirren (19:45)

    Reykjavik suitcase checklist:

    • Passport
    • Sunglasses
    • St Mirren top
    • Selfie stick?
    St Mirren fans welcome playersImage source, SNS
  8. Sigurdsson starts for Valurpublished at 18:56 British Summer Time 25 July

    Valur v St Mirren (19:45)

    You might recognise a couple of names in the Valur team.

    Former Everton and Spurs midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson jumps off the page, starting in midfield, while captain Holmar Orn Evjolfsson, who was once on the books at West Ham, is on the bench.

  9. Robinson hands two St Mirren debutspublished at 18:54 British Summer Time 25 July

    St Mirren v Valur (19:45)

    Dennis AdeniranImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Summer signing Dennis Adeniran is on the St Mirren bench

    Stephen Robinson hands St Mirren debuts to summer signings Ellery Balcombe in goal and Oisin Smyth in midfield.

    Alex Iacovitti misses out with a minor injury along with Shaun Rooney, who has a one-game European suspension carried over from his time with St Johnstone.

    Forward Greg Kiltie and midfielder Conor McMenamin are still recovering from injury but are expected back in a few weeks.

  10. Killie debut for McCrorie but no Watkinspublished at 18:52 British Summer Time 25 July

    Kilmarnock v Cercle Bruges (19:30)

    Former Rangers goalkeeper Robby McCrorie makes his first competitive Kilmarnock start after joining in the summer, but Bruce Anderson will have to wait for his debut as he's named on the bench.

    It's a strong line-up from Derek McInnes, in what appears to be a 4-3-3 formation, but last season's top scorer Marley Watkins misses out completely.

    There are potential debuts for youngsters Ben Brannan, Kian Leslie, and Archie Traynor on the bench.

    Robby McCrorieImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    McCrorie has played once in Europa League qualifying before, for Rangers against Alashkert

  11. LINE-UPS from Reykjavikpublished at 18:50 British Summer Time 25 July

    Valur v St Mirren (19:45)

    Valur: Schram, Gunnarsson, Palsson, Helgason, Larusson, G Sigurdsson, Antonsson, K Sigurdsson, Haraldsson, Pederson, Jonsson.

    Substitutes: Agustsson, Kirstinsson, B. Saevarsson, Johannsson, Tryggvason, Eyjolfsson, Unnarsson, Heimisson, O. Omarsson, Stephensen, Finsen.

    St Mirren: Balcombe, Fraser, Taylor, Gogic, Bwomono, Brown, Smyth, O'Hara, Boyd-Munce, Mandron, Olusanya.

    Substitutes: Urminsky, Kelly, Tanser, Ayunga, Idowu, Scott, Adeniran, Jamieson, Kenny, Taylor, Mooney, Sutherland.

  12. LINE-UPS from Kilmarnockpublished at 18:49 British Summer Time 25 July

    Kilmarnock v Cercle Bruges (19:30)

    Kilmarnock: McCrorie, Mayo, Wright, Findlay, Deas, Lyons, Donnelly, Watson, Armstrong, Vassell, Kennedy.

    Substitutes: O'Hara, Glavin, McKenzie, Mackay-Steven, Murray, Cameron, Anderson, Wales, Brannan, Leslie, Polworth, Taynor.

    Cercle Bruges: Warleson, Ravych, Utkus, Daland, Nazinho, Van der Bruggen, Francis, Ouattara, Somers, Olaigbe, Denkey.

    Substitutes: Delanghe, De Bel, Popovic, Agyekum, Augusto, Miangue, Bayo, Bruno Goncalves, El Bahri, Lietaert, Kakou.

  13. Postpublished at 18:47 British Summer Time 25 July

    Team news from both games hasn't long dropped.

    Let's get straight to that before we go anywhere else...

  14. Postpublished at 18:45 British Summer Time 25 July

    Rugby ParkImage source, SNS
    St Mirren fansImage source, SNS

    Two of Scotland's five representatives take their first steps on their 2024-25 European journey this evening.

    Kilmarnock welcome Cercle Bruges to Rugby Park in Europa League qualifying - you watch that live on BBC Scotland.

    Meanwhile, St Mirren are in Conference League qualifying and face Valur in Iceland in their first European game since 1987.