All news

Club - Genk: Club Facts

Jupiler Pro League

Match Day 4 only just behind us, they roll in Match Day 5. Tonight at Jan Breydel, the two teams-in-form these Play-Offs will be crossing swords for the first time this week. Find out all about Club - Genk with the Club Facts!

The Fixture

Wednesday evening marks the final Match Day of the first round of the Champions' Play-Offs. A duel between the only two teams that so far remained unbeaten these Play-Offs, both Club and Genk claiming a solid 10/12 so far.

For Club this has been (together with the 2021/22 season) the best start to a Play-Offs in history, helping Club leapfrog Union to second place over the weekend, two points behind leaders RSC Anderlecht. The team from the capital suffered a last-gasp defeat at the hands of Racing Genk over the weekend.

In 85 earlier meetings between the two, Club won 25 times at Jan Breydel, suffered defeat on nine occasions and in eight encounters there was no winner. The particular fixture will be the tenth time in the Play-Offs, with Club winning 7 out of nine. The past two have been for Genk, however.

This season, Club picked up 4 out of a possible 6 against Genk. In September, the home game ended in a 1-1 after Vanaken erased El Khannouss' opening goal. Early last month, Club recorded its biggest ever away win against Genk by winning 0-3 after goals from Vetlesen, Odoi and Skov Olsen. Skov Olsen, like Mignolet and Nielsen, is not yet match-fit.

Igor Thiago is still the club's top striker with sixteen goals, Maxime De Cuyper added an assist against Union and now counts eight decisive passes in the league. The game will see the two Champions' Play-Offs top strikers also go head-to-head. On the Bruges side, Onyedika has made his way to the nets three times so far, while Tolu did the same for Genk. Nordin Jackers (who might play the team where he received his education) and Brandon Mechele did not miss a minute for Club in this edition of the Play-Offs.

<p>Raphael Onyedika will be back after suspension against Genk. He already scored three goals in the Champions' Play-Offs. </p>

Raphael Onyedika will be back after suspension against Genk. He already scored three goals in the Champions' Play-Offs.

The opponent

Earlier Play-Off games saw KRC Genk beat Union (1-0) and Anderlecht (2-1) at home, and away at Antwerp (0-1). The other game ended in a 0-0 draw against Cercle. The game at Club will be Genk's second away mission. Club has had two away games so far (1-1 at Cercle, 1-2 at Union) and twice on their own Jan Breydel grounds. At home, Club scored 6 goals, conceding just one in two victories.

With an unbeaten record in four home games (2W & 2D), the last team to win against Genk was Blue & Black (0-3 last month). With great timing, Wouter Vrancken got his team back on track for the play-offs after a difficult season. Man in form Tolu has now scored eleven goals, while Bilal El Khannouss was already good for six assists.

No Joris Kayembe for Genk, out on suspension. Heynen, Oyen, Ouattara and Sor are also unavailable. Ken Nkuba is fit again. El Khannouss is the only Genk player on a yellow card from suspension.

<p>The previous home game against the Limburgers saw Vanaken secure a point (1-1). </p>

The previous home game against the Limburgers saw Vanaken secure a point (1-1).

Milestones

  • Igor Thiago may play his 50th match for Club.
  • For Michał Skóraś it may be the 40th match at Club.
  • Kyriani Sabbe can play his 30th match at Blue & Black. It may also be his 20th match in the JPL.
  • Youth product Chemsdine Talbi is facing his 10th match at Club.
  • Bjorn Meijer can play his 60th league match for Club.
  • Jorne Spileers is facing his 40th match in the Jupiler Pro League.

The referee

Mr. Lothar D'Hondt was designated as referee, he will be supported by linesmen Mr. Romain Devillers and Mr. Nicolas Claes and fourth official Mr. Michiel Allaerts. Mr. Erik Lambrecht is in charge of VAR tonight, with Mr. Jo De Weirdt and Mr. Roel Bensch alongside him.

It is the 20th time Mr. D'Hondt will be leading an official match at Club. The eight previous ones ended in four wins, two draws and two defeats.

Thirteen times before, the 29-year-old ref led a KRC Genk match, seven of which were away from home (2W 3D 2L). Earlier this season, Mr. D'Hondt was in charge of the away game for Club at Eupen (0-5) and in the cup at home against Zulte Waregem (4-0) and away at Union (2-0). As to Genk, he was leading the two Limburg derbies against STVV (3-3 at home and 1-1 away) and both away games at Antwerp (3-2 and 0-1). It is only the first time he will whistle a duel between Club and Racing.