Cercle Brugge vs Genk Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Belgian Pro League
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THE FACTS
When is Cercle Brugge vs Genk on and what time does it start? Cercle Brugge vs Genk will take place on Saturday 12th August,, 2023 – 19:45 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Cercle Brugge vs Genk? Visit each team’s official website for the latest ticket information
Where can I watch Cercle Brugge vs Genk in the UK? Cercle Brugge vs Genk will not be televised live and cannot be streamed in the UK
THE LOWDOWN
CERCLE BRUGGE
In the 2022/23 Jupiler Pro League campaign, Cercle Brugge finished just inside the top eight and the UEFA Europa Conference League playoff places. They then finished the campaign very well, eventually missing out on fifth place to Genk. Former Ried manager and Cercle assistant, Miron Muslic, remains in charge at Cercle and, once again, they will be hoping for a top eight finish or maybe even squeezing into the top six at the end of the season.
The home team come into this on the back of a comfortable 2-0 win at home to Sporting Charleroi in their most recent outing, last weekend. That game, though, will be mitigated against because Charleroi have a very depleted squad but Cercle were still very dominant with a 2-0 lead at half-time and they were comfortable winners. That came after an opening day loss away to Royal Antwerp in which they were only slenderly beaten by the reigning champions due to a first-half stoppage-time own goal from Jesper Daland.
GENK
Under the management of Wouter Vrancken, Genk topped the Belgian Jupiler Pro League table for much of the campaign last season before eventually fading. After fading, though, they rallied and seemed destined to eventually win the title in the Championship Round before losing in dramatic circumstances as Antwerp were crowned winners for the first time in over 50 years. This time around, though, they remain one of the main contenders for the title.
Despite that, they will come into this in a fairly bad mindset off the back of some poor performances and results. The visitors began the season with an impressive 4-0 demolition of newly-promoted RWD Molenbeek away from home but they have followed that up by being knocked out at home in the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round on penalties by Swiss Super League side Servette and then they were beaten 1-0 at home by a Eupen side that are expected to battle against relegation this season.
THE PREDICTED LINE-UPS
CERCLE BRUGGE
Miron Muslic, like many teams and managers in the Belgian top-flight, prefers a back three system and that is how they have begun this campaign.
With no injuries or suspensions, as well as the impressive form of several players such as their front two Denkey and Somers, Cercle are expected to name an unchanged side for this tough test.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-1-2): Warleson; Lopes, Ravych, Daland; Siquet, Francis, Van der Bruggen, Deman; Gboho; Somers, Denkey
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
GENK
Last weekend, following on from their defeat to Servette in the UEFA Champions League, Wouter Vrancken decided to rest both Joseph Paintsil and Tolu Arokodare but both are expected to return to the starting eleven this week.
The visitors remain without their key man, Bryan Heynen, who is out injured but also heavily linked with a move away from the club during the rest of this transfer window.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Vandervoordt; Preciado, Sadick, McKenzie, Arteaga; Mohammed, Hrosovsky; Paintsil, El Khannouss, Ndayishimiye; Arokodare
UNAVAILABLE: Heynen (Injury)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
The Belgian Jupiler Pro League has often been one of the most entertaining leagues in European football with an average of over three goals per game last season being evidence of that. These are two, like many, of the more unpredictable sides in the division, albeit with clear quality that should keep them towards the top end of the table. Cercle Brugge will always expect to create chances at the Janbreydelstadion but Genk remain potent in attack, despite their recent poor results. This should be an intriguing one for the neutral.
TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
