Club - Genk: the club facts

After the Super Cup win, another top affair is on the agenda on Sunday. On the opening day of the new season, Club will receive the Limburgers from Genk. Read all Club Facts below.

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THE MATCH

For the third season in a row, Club gets to start the league season at their own Jan Breydel Stadium. After a series of 4 wins in a row on the opening game, Club could not win the league opener in the past 2 seasons. In 2021 there was a 2-2 draw against KAS Eupen, in 2020 Club lost 0-1 to Sporting Charleroi.

It is only the 2nd time Club has had to face the Limburg club on the first matchday. The previous time was in 2003. Then Club was able to win 1-0 thanks to a goal from Andrés Mendoza.

Last week news broke that Casper Nielsen has signed with Club for 4 seasons. Andreas Skov Olsen gains another compatriot. It is already the 15th season in Club Brugge's history that there are at least 2 Danes in the Club selection. The first time was in the 1974-75 season when Blauw-Zwart immediately had 3 with Hans Aabech, Birger Jensen and Ulrik Le Fevre.

Last season Club achieved a 6 out of 6 against KRC Genk in the league. In Genk, despite a man down, Club won 2-3. At home, Club triumphed 3-1. The clubs also faced each other in the 1/8th final of the Croky Cup. After a spectacular game (3-3), penalties had to decide. Blauw-Zwart eventually won those with 3-5.

It is the 79th confrontation between both teams in the First Division. The 39 previous home matches yielded 24 wins, 7 draws and 8 defeats. So if Club can beat the Limburgers, it will book its 25th home win against Genk. In the past 13 home matches against Genk, Club lost only once. If Club does not lose, it is already 10 consecutive matches unbeaten against blue and white in the regular league.

Club could not keep the zero against Genk for 13 mutual league matches in a row already. Last season, Hans Vanaken scored in both league games against KRC Genk. He scored 8 goals against his compatriots. Only Gert Verheyen (9 goals) scored more often against KRC Genk in the league.

THE OPPONENT

KRC Genk is the first club to host Jan Breydel in the new Jupiler Pro League season. Just like Club, KRC starts the season with a new coach: Wouter Vrancken came over from YR KV Mechelen and succeeds Bernd Storck. Vrancken was already active at Genk as a player from 2006 to 2008. After finishing his career, he climbed to KV Mechelen via Gravelo, Thes Sport and Lommel SK, with whom he won a cup and forced promotion to First. Now the 43-year-old coach returns to his native province.

Unlike last season, the club was not yet very active in the transfer market. It lost Norwegian midfielder Kristian Thorstvedt to Sassuolo (Ita). As a replacement, Argentine midfielder Nicolás Castro was recruited (CA Newell's Old Boys). Cyriel Dessers, who made nice at Feyenoord last season and even played the Conference League final with them, returned to Genk. In addition, Bilal El Khannouss (Mar/Bel) made the move from Jong Genk and mercenaries Iké Ugbo, Bastien Toma, Eboue Kouassi and Sébastien Dewaest returned.

KRC Genk played 6 preparation matches. It won from Eendracht Termien (0-4), Heist (1-8), FC Utrecht (1-2) and RFC Seraing (4-0) and lost to FC Volendam (3-2) and AEK Athens (0-2). The young Hungarian striker András Németh, who already had 5 substitute appearances last season, was the top shooter in the preparation with 8 goals.

KRC Genk starts the season on the road for the 3rd year in a row. The past 2 seasons Genk was able to draw (1-1 at Standard) and win (1-2 at Zulte Waregem) on the opening day of play.

MILPALS

Éder Balanta can play his 100th game for Blauw-Zwart! Since his arrival in 2019, he has played 70 league matches, 11 cup matches, 1 supercup and 17 European matches for Blauw-Zwart. Jack Hendry can play his 60th match in the Belgian First Division. He played 23 for Club and 36 with KVO.

Should Casper Nielsen make his debut, he will play his 40th match in the Jupiler Pro League. Last season he missed only 1 match at Union due to a suspension. Another newcomer Cyle Larin could also reach a milestone: his 30th match in the Belgian First Division. He played the other 29 for Zulte Waregem in the 2019-20 season.

THE REFEREE

Nicolas Laforge whistles Club Brugge's league opener against KRC Genk. Laurent Conotte and Vito Di Vincenzo assist him as linesmen. Ken Vermeiren is the fourth official. In Tubize, Jan Boterberg is the VAR on duty, flanked by Koen Thijs and Carlos-Manuel Serra Guerreiro Alho.

It is the 38th time Laforge has led an official match at Club Brugge. For KRC Genk, it is his 33rd match. 18 home matches under Laforge's supervision ended in 11 wins, 3 draws and 4 defeats for Blauw-Zwart. 13 away matches of the Limburg club under his direction yielded 4 wins, 5 draws and 4 defeats.

OTHER MATCHES THIS MATCHDAY

Fri 22/07 20:45 R. Standard de Liège - KAA Gent (Ref: Lawrence Visser)

Sat 23/07 16:00 Sp. du Pays de Charleroi - KAS Eupen (Ref: Bram Van Driessche)
Sat 23/07 18:15 KV Kortrijk - Oud-Heverlee Leuven (Ref: Lothar D'Hondt)
Sat 23/07 18:15 SV Zulte Waregem - RFC Seraing (Ref: Bert Put)
Sat 23/07 20:45 K. Sint-Truidense VV - R. Union St.-Gilloise (Ref: Jonathan Lardot)

Sun 24/07 16:00 YR KV Mechelen - R. Antwerp FC (Ref: Erik Lambrechts)
Sun 24/07 18:30 RSC Anderlecht - KV Oostende (Ref: Alexandre Boucaut)
Sun 24/07 21:00 KVC Westerlo - Cercle Brugge KSV (Ref: Wesli De Cremer)