Gent vs Genk Predictions

• Gent have won seven of their last ten home league games (2 draws, 1 loss).
• Genk have lost six of their last ten away league contests (2 wins, 2 draws).
• Gent have won both previous meetings this season (3-0 away and 1-0 at home).

Buffaloes are buoyant after cup win

Gent have already demonstrated twice this season that they have too much for Genk and Sunday’s opening round of the Belgian Europa Conference League playoffs is unlikely to be any different.

The Buffaloes enjoyed their taste of European football this season, reaching the last-16 stage of the inaugural Conference League, but have already secured a berth in the Europa League play-off round next season by virtue of their cup win last week. Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s side overcame Anderlecht on penalties after a 0-0 draw which they dominated in Brussels.

It was perhaps less of a surprise that they didn’t score after Laurent Depoitre pulled out during the pre-game warm-up. Gent won 15 of the 22 games the targetman started in the regular season and only three of the 12 he didn’t. His calf strain could keep him out of this game too and with Gent top scorer Tarik Tissoudali potentially not at his energetic best because of Ramadan, goals could be a problem for the hosts.

Crisis club Genk look short on belief

Everything has been a problem for Genk this season with changes afoot in what could turn out to be an interesting few weeks off the field as much as on it. The director of football says the mentality needs to change and that certain players are no longer welcome as he plots a major recruitment drive.

Morale in the camp was low after a run of three defeats in five between late February and March, but back-to-back wins over two of the bottom four may have restored a modicum of confidence. Their away form is pretty dismal, however, with only two wins in their last ten and six losses in that time.

There were few complaints about either of their regular season defeats to Gent either and a much-criticised group of underachievers may lack the belief in themselves to win this game. But given the Buffaloes attack may be weakened and they are coming off a few days of cup celebrations that clinch European football anyway, we feel this might finish 1-0 to the hosts.

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