Champions League

[monks data]

Attendance: 17,284

Champions League | Group Stage

Nov 27, 2019 at 8pm UK

Genk
1-4
Salzburg Red Bull Salzburg

Samata (85')

FT(HT: 0-2)

Daka (43'), Minamino (45'), Hee-chan (69'), Braut Haaland (87')

Preview: Genk vs. Red Bull Salzburg - prediction, team news, lineups

By Sean Wilson | 26 November 2019

Sports Mole previews the Champions League clash between Genk and Red Bull Salzburg, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Red Bull Salzburg will be hoping to close the gap to the top two in Champions League Group E when they face struggling Genk in Belgium on Wednesday.

The group's most prolific attack face the side with the most porous defence in an encounter that will surely produce goals.

Match Preview

Red Bull Salzburg's Hwang Hee-chan in action against Liverpool in the Champions League on October 2, 2019 © Reuters

Genk have claimed just a solitary point from their Champions League campaign so far, holding Napoli to a 0-0 draw on home soil in their second group game of the season.

The Belgian outfit are struggling domestically as well, finding themselves ninth and 10 points behind league leaders Club Brugge after 15 games.

Genk have struggled particularly at the back in the Champions League, conceding 12 goals from just four games and keeping only one clean sheet.

This was exemplified by the 6-2 thrashing handed to them by Salzburg the last time they met, and they will not be looking forward to facing the Austrian side a second time.

Salzburg, meanwhile, are flying domestically, having gone unbeaten in 15 league games this season and are a point clear at the top of the league table.

Add to that a staggering tally of 58 goals whilst allowing just 14 at the other end, and the picture of a formidable force is painted.

However, the quality of the teams they have faced in Europe has been significantly higher, though Salzburg have not altered their attacking approach in spite of that.

Narrow, high-scoring defeats have been suffered as they went down 4-3 against Liverpool at Anfield while losing 3-2 against Napoli on home turf, before holding the Serie A side to a 1-1 draw in Italy.

They still have an outside chance of securing qualification to the knockout stages, however, and another big victory over Genk would be a more-than-welcome boost to their hopes.

Genk form: WDLLWD
Red Bull Salzburg form: WWWDWD

Team News

Genk are without two long-term absentees - veteran goalkeeper Danny Vukovic and central midfielder Bryan Heynen.

Left-back Jere Uronen is also a doubt, but the Belgian side have an otherwise fully-fit squad to choose from, however.

Salzburg, on the other hand, have a raft of unavailable players to deal with.

Alexander Walke, Antoine Bernede, Cican Stankovic, Patrick Farkas and Sekou Koita are all sidelined with some form of injury.

The major talking point, however, is the potential unavailability of star striker Erling Braut Haaland, who is struggling with a knee problem and may not be fit in time for the game.

Genk possible starting lineup:
Coucke; Maehle, Cuesta, Dewaest, De Norre; Ito, Berge, Hrosovsky, Bongonda; Hagi; Samatta

Red Bull Salzburg possible starting lineup:
Carlos; Kristensen, Ramalho, Wober, Ulmer; Mwepu, Junuzovic, Szoboszlai, Minamino; Hwang, Haaland

We say: Genk 1-4 Red Bull Salzburg

Salzburg need a win to put pressure on Napoli ahead of them and, given the outcome of their last meeting, Salzburg could run away with this one again and rack up a convincing scoreline.