Genk – Gent Prediction & Picks (10.05.2018)

Belgium has a different league mode than most of the usual championship systems. There, the teams are divided after a certain number of matchdays and in different groups, the clubs then fight for descent and championship. In the Championship Group, for example, there are six clubs that make up the top places in direct duels (two each). This promises on the one hand a few top games at the end of the season and on the other hand avoids the problem of distortion of competition, if it is for one team or another for nothing more. In Belgium, therefore, the situation with three games left to the end of the season is as follows: Bruges, Anderlecht and Liège still three teams are fighting for the title. Behind them are RSC Charleroi, KAA Gent and KRC Genk, who are still fighting for their place in the Europa League. Genk and Ghent, the outsiders of easily-confused clubs, face off in direct duels on Thursday, while Charleroi, currently in the coveted fourth place, has to face the leaders from Bruges.

Genk:

KRC Genk has already achieved the goal of the season by reaching the championship group and yet the club wants to make the leap into the Europa League, of course, if you are already so close. The shape of the home side is not that bad. Before last weekend Genk remained undefeated five games and took, among other things against the top teams from Anderlecht and Bruges four points. All the more surprising was the 0-5 swatter, which was now to endure last weekend in Liège.

After this setback, the gap to fourth place is two points and a sense of achievement on Thursday evening in the home game against the direct competitor is almost mandatory. The problem in recent weeks is clearly the flagging offensive. Only twice in the last ten encounters
Genk scored two goals, four times remained the troupe of Philippe Clement completely without a own goal. This Torflaute should be corrected.

Gent:

As a reminder: KAA Gent is the club that sensationally won the title for the first time in club history three years ago and then even caused a sensation in the premier class. Since then, the club has established itself as a top team in Belgium, but without approaching the dream season 2014/15 again. Once again, Gent will only be a spectator in the fight for the championship. However, a move into international business would be a great success, which is still in the realm of possibility.

However, the shape curve has been pointing in the wrong direction for some weeks now and Yves Vanderhaeghe’s protégés seem to be running out of air. Only one point was taken from the past five games (0-0 against Genk). During this time, the Buffalos’ defensive offensive scored only two goals, making it even more harmless than Genk’s opponent. On Thursday, it will depend on who can best cover his small form crisis during the 90 minutes.