Gent
- KAA Gent will be going into Sunday’s winner-takes-all barrage at the Planet Group Arena as underdogs after finishing their Championship play-off campaign in 5th place with 29 points.
- They have lacked cutting edge in the attacking areas though and have failed to beat Genk in their last five meetings, drawing two and losing three in the sequence.
- Goalkeeper Davy Roef has kept Gent in games through a series of great saves, but Gent have gone winless in their last five matches, including a 5-0 defeat to Club Brugge and a streak of low-scoring draws.
Genk
- Genk finished top of the Conference play-off group with 38 points, nine more than Gent.
- Boss Nicky Hayen has created a pragmatic and high-intensity team that are happy to be on the front foot, press the ball and try to win it back as quickly as possible.
- Genk finished the season strongly with two wins and two shutouts in their final three games.
Head-to-Head
- Genk have won three of their last five games against Gent, scoring multiple goals in several of those meetings.
- Gent have not beaten Genk in their last five attempts, drawing twice and conceding 12 goals in that sequence.
Key Players
- The Limburgers’ players have bought into his system with Bryan Heynen their captain and driving force in the middle of the field, where he can be the goalscorer or provider and someone to take the pressure in big games.
- Heynen has been a key contributor with goals and assists, while fellow striker Daan Heymans - among the league’s top scorers - and left winger Zakaria El Ouahdi provide the creativity and speed to stretch defences.
- Roef’s opposite number Lucca Brughmans arrives in this barrage in fine form having kept multiple clean sheets during the play-off phase.
- He will be tested by Gent's Wilfried Kanga, but the Genk keeper will get all the support he needs from a back four that will remain compact while Gent’s Leonardo Lopes, Daiki Hashioka and Siebe van der Heyden maintain their structure.
Betting Insights
- Odds:Gent 3.03, Genk 2.25, Draw 3.66.
- We’re going to back Over 2.5 goals at 1.73 rather than Both to score at 1.57 here.
Prediction
Hayen’s men have the momentum and recent head-to-head advantage to edge a tight game that should be full of pressure with a big crowd and comfortable conditions.
