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Genk - Club: the Club facts

On Sunday, KRC Genk hosts Club Brugge. Find out all the facts and figures from the third day of play in the Jupiler Pro League below.

The match

Next Sunday, Club returns to the east of the country to face KRC Genk in the second away game of the Jupiler Pro League. It will be the 87th meeting between the two teams in the highest division of Belgian soccer. Club's previous 43 away games against the Limburgers ended in 14 wins, 9 draws and 20 defeats.

Last season, Club went on to win both in the regular league and playoffs at KRC Genk's field, each time 0-3, equaling its biggest away win. In March, Hugo Vetlesen, Denis Odoi and Andreas Skov Olsen (pen) were able to shake the nets. In April, Kyriani Sabbe put Club ahead, after which Hugo Vetlesen and Igor Thiago were also able to score in the second half.

Both Club and Genk could not win yet this season and started their JPL campaign with a 1 in 6. If Club cannot win on Sunday, it will make its worst start in 35 years. It has been since 1989-90, when Club started with a 2 out of 9, that Club remained winless in the first 3 playing days. Club did manage to celebrate its 8th national title at the end of that season.

Ardon Jashari made his debut for Club against Standard. With a pass accuracy of 90%, he was the team's best passer. Only Brandon Mechele (7) and Hugo Siquet (6) regained possession of the ball more often than the Swiss (5). Top shooter was Joaquin Seys (1 goal).

Maxim De Cuyper was involved in no less than 16 actions in the first 2 days of play that ended in a goal attempt. That is the highest number of all players in the JPL, but unfortunately none of those 16 actions ended in a goal.

Hans Vanaken could already score 17 times in his career (including 13 for Club) against KRC Genk in the Jupiler Pro League. In this century, no player in the league scored that many times against any given team.

Andreas Skov Olsen could play his 100th game for Club on Sunday. If he contributes a goal, he will do so for the 70th time at Club (42 goals + 27 assists).

The opponent

After 2 campaigns, Genk said goodbye to coach Wouter Vrancken at the end of last season, who went to KAA Gent. This summer it was announced that Thorsten Fink would replace him. The German came over from STVV. He was previously coach at FC Basel (Sui), Hamburger SV (Ger), Austria Wien (Aut) and Vissel Kobe (Jpn), among others. But Fink is even better known for his 6 seasons with FC Bayern Munich as a player, with which he won 5 German titles, 3 cups and 1 Champions League (2001).

This summer, KRC Genk said goodbye to goalkeepers Maarten Vandevoordt (RB Leipzig (Ger)) and Vic Chambaere (Union St.-Gillis), midfielder Aziz Ouattara (Civ) (loaned to KV Mechelen) and striker Anouar Ait El Hadj (Union St.-Gillis). Also former Club defender Eduard Sobol (back after on loan from Strasbourg (Fra)).

This week the Limburgers reinforced themselves with Austrian defensive midfielder Nikolas Sattlberger (20) who came over from Rapid Vienna. In addition, there were other newcomers:

  • Defenders Matt Smets (STVV) and Adrián Palacios (Ven/Col)(Deportivo Cali (Col))
  • Midfielder Thomas Claes (own youth)
  • Attackers Hyeon-gyu Oh (Kor)(Celtic FC (Sco)) and Jarne Steuckers (STVV)

KRC Genk started the season with a 0-0 draw against Standard Liege. Last weekend, Racing lost 3-1 at Oud-Heverlee Leuven. Tolu Arokodare saved the honor for Genk.

In its practice campaign, KRC Genk won against Hades (1-4) and PAOK (3-1), played a draw against Sporting Charleroi (3-3) and Lille OSC (2-2) and lost to Feyenoord (3-1) and Go Ahead Eagles (1-2). If KRC Genk were to lose to Club, it would make its worst start in 10 seasons. In 2014-15 (2 in 9), Genk was also without a win after 3 playing days.

With an average age of 22.5, KRC Genk has the youngest starting eleven in the Jupiler Pro League.

Milestones

  • Andreas Skov Olsen can play his 100th game for Club Brugge!
  • For Hugo Vetlesen, it could be the 60th match at Blauw-Zwart.
  • Michal Skoras can be in action for Club for the 50th time!
  • Casper Nielsen can play his 70th league match for FCB.
  • For Maxim De Cuyper, it could be the 40th league match at Club.
  • Joel Ordóñez can play his 20th league match.
  • Hugo Siquet can play his 90th match in First Division (37 for Standard, 50 at Cercle, 2 at Club).

Match records

Biggest win:

  • 0-3 (18/04/2003). Goals: 7' Sæternes, 19' Čeh, 43' G. Verheyen
  • 0-3 (03/03/2024). Goals: 26' Vetlesen, 73' Odoi, 85' (p) Skov Olse
  • 0-3 (28/04/2024). Goals: 38' Sabbe, 67' Vetlesen, 71' Thiago

Most goals:

  • 4-2 (20/04/2016). Goals: 14' Ndidi, 42' Pozuelo, 45' (og) Meunier, 72' Uronen | 80' Vormer, 84' Meunier
  • 2-4 (08/05/1994). Goals: 59' 62' G. Claessens | 8' G. Verheyen, 35' Amokachi, 58' Borkelmans, 60' Staelens

Biggest defeat:

  • 3-0 (06/03/1998). Goals: 14' 17' Strupar, 44' Van Geem
  • 3-0 (26/02/2012). Goals: 57' 65' Benteke, 74' Vossen
  • 4-1 (03/02/2013). Goals: 12' De Bock (o.g.), 58' Hyland (p), 88' Barda, 90+4' Limbombe | 86' Bacca
  • 3-0 (07/05/2021). Goals: 57' Onuachu, 74' Ito, 76' Thorstvedt

First game:

  • 0-1 (06/05/1989). Goals: 83' Degryse


Last 10 times:

  • 0-3 (28/04/2024). Goals: 38' Sabbe, 67' Vetlesen, 71' Thiago (PO1 2023-2024)
  • 0-3 (03/03/2024). Goals: 26' Vetlesen, 73' Odoi, 85' (p) Skov Olsen (Regular League 2023-2024)
  • 3-1 (30/04/2023). Goals: 18' Muñoz, 56' McKenzie, 83' Paintsil | 9' Vanaken (PO1 2022-2023)
  • 3-1 (08/01/2023). Goals: 25' Cuesta, 67' Onuachu, 81' Heynen | 21' Vanaken (Regular League 2022-2023).
  • 2-3 (28/11/2021). Goals: 49' 72' Hrošovský | 35' Vanaken, 78' Lang, 82' Ricca (Regular League 2021-2022)
  • 3-0 (07/05/2021). Goals: 57' Onuachu, 74' Ito, 76' Thorstvedt (PO1 2020-2021)
  • 1-2 (30/08/2020). Goals: 61' (p) Bongonda | 22' Vanaken, 83' Badji (Regular League 2020-2021).
  • 1-2 (01/03/2020). Goals: 9' Ito | 3' De Ketelaere, 89' Rits (Regular League 2019-2020)
  • 3-1 (14/04/2019). Goals: 13' Trossard, 55' (p) Malinovskiy, 80' Samatta | 36' (p) Vanaken (PO1 2018-2019)
  • 1-1 (03/11/2018). Goals: 10' Ndongala | 53' Schrijvers (Regular League 2018-2019)

TOTAL: 5W 1D 4L

Overall statistics.

First Division: 86 duels, 40 wins for Club, 17 draws and 29 defeats, 144 goals for and 113 against

Cup: 2 duels, 1 draw (won after penalties), 1 defeat for Club, 3 goals for and 7 against

Supercup: 3 draws, 3 wins for Club, 7 goals for and 3 against

TOTAL: 91 duels, 43 wins for Club, 18 draws and 30 defeats, 154 goals for and 123 against.

Referee

Nicolas Laforge was designated ref for this game. The linesmen on duty are Quentin Blaise and Vito Di Vincenzo. Bram Van Driessche is the fourth official. The VAR is Bert Put. He will be assisted by Kevin Debeuckelaere and Roel Bensch.