Genk
- Belgium’s Racing Genk will look to progress to the next round of the UEFA Europa League 2025-26 when they take on GNK Dinamo Zagreb at Cegeka Arena on Thursday.
- A two-goal advantage and home advantage should see Hayen’s side through, but Dinamo have the firepower to make the return fixture tense if they get an early goal.
- His flexible system, which uses wing-backs and high-tempo pressing to force opponents into errors and rapid transitions, has given Genk a fresh look and the results are speaking for themselves.
- Genk’s last five competitive matches have yielded four wins and a draw, including a 3-1 away statement win against Dinamo in the last round.
- Captain Bryan Heynen’s goal got the game’s momentum and his work rate in midfield has given the side a solid anchor while Zakaria El Ouahdi has emerged as a surprise attacking threat from right back, netting a brace in Zagreb.
Dinamo Zagreb
- Mario Kovačević’s Dinamo are built on different principles to Genk and are a possession-first team who look to control the tempo of the game and dominate via set pieces and wide play.
- Fran Topić plays off Zajc in midfield and has been a key distributor in Zagreb’s recent wins over Osijek and Rijeka.
- Beljo is Dinamo’s focal point up front and scored in the first leg of their tie with Genk.
- Kovačević’s team are on top of the league with 48 points from 22 matches, but have yet to replicate their domestic dominance in Europe, where they have been caught out on the counter a few times.
- Striker Aaron Bibout and winger Daan Heymans also offer goal and assist threat for the Belgians and the visitors may have to play with an open top in this matchup if they are to reverse the deficit.
Head-to-Head
Genk lead the tie 3-1 on aggregate after a dominant away win at Dinamo Zagreb in the first leg of their Europa League knockout tie.
Genk
- Captain Bryan Heynen’s goal got the game’s momentum and his work rate in midfield has given the side a solid anchor while Zakaria El Ouahdi has emerged as a surprise attacking threat from right back, netting a brace in Zagreb.
- Striker Aaron Bibout and winger Daan Heymans also offer goal and assist threat for the Belgians and the visitors may have to play with an open top in this matchup if they are to reverse the deficit.
Dinamo Zagreb
- Right-back Zakaria El Ouahdi, who scored a double in Zagreb, has pushed high and wide when playmaker Miha Zajc has been in possession to create overloads that Genk have exploited ruthlessly.
- Fran Topić plays off Zajc in midfield and has been a key distributor in Zagreb’s recent wins over Osijek and Rijeka.
- Beljo is Dinamo’s focal point up front and scored in the first leg of their tie with Genk.
Betting Insights
- The bookmakers have got this one right by making Genk favourites at 2.05 and Dinamo Zagreb 3.6 outsiders with the draw 3.5.
- We’ll chance Hayen’s team to edge this tie in regulation time, but Dinamo will be coming hard from the start and the 2.05 about both teams to score also looks appealing.
- A home win seems the most likely result, but this could be a tense game if Dinamo press the issue early on and the 2.05 on Hayen’s Genk is probably the value pick.
- Cool, dry conditions should help the ball move in an open, end-to-end European night in Belgium on Thursday and Dinamo will have to take the initiative, which should suit Hayen’s wing-back system.
Prediction
- We’ll chance Hayen’s team to edge this tie in regulation time.
- Both teams to score looks a sensible secondary play if Dinamo push early to overturn the deficit.
