Riddersholm with successful coaching debut?
Genk take on Rapid Wien in a Belgian-Austrian clash on the final matchday in Group H. The home side are in first place. The home side are in third place and can only hope to stay in the competition with a win. At the same time, a draw would be enough for them to stay in the Conference League.
For the visitors, the arithmetic is simpler: A win alone would at least ensure participation in the latter competition. Otherwise, the capital’s excursion at European level would already be over again.
For the match at the Cegeka Arena between Genk and Rapid Wien, the forecast includes a home win.
Genk – Statistics & current form
The Smurfs have competed in European competitions for the most part over the past decade. Six participations in a group stage in the Europa or Champions League can be discovered in the review of the past ten years. The most successful season was 2016/2017.
At that time, the team reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League and Rapid Wien was also an opponent during the group stage in that season. Perhaps the Austrians are now a good omen again in the quest to remain in the competition.
No win for four matchdays
However, performances tended to drop off after an opening win against Rapid. A defeat and a draw were recorded against West Ham and Dinamo Zagreb respectively. On the other hand, the two clubs can be considered a step up from the upcoming opponents.
On the offensive side, Limburg’s hopes lie above all with Paul Onuachu. Last season’s top scorer in the Jupiler League was already playing well at the start of the current season, with ten goals in 15 league games, but the Nigerian subsequently lost his touch.
In addition, a temporary injury put him out of action. Since last weekend, however, the 27-year-old is available again and the upcoming opponents also suit him, as he also contributed the decisive goal in the first comparison about three months ago.
Given his return and continued undoubted class, the odds on his next goal for coach Glen Riddersholm’s side in the clash between Genk and Rapid Vienna are equally worth considering.
Predicted line-up of Genk:
Vandevoordt – Lucumi – Arteaga – Sadick – Preciado – Thorstvedt – Hrosovsky – Heynen – Onuachu – Paintsil – Bongonda
Last matches of Genk:
Jupiler Liga
12/05 2021 – KV Mechelen 1 – 1 KRC Genk
Cup
12/01 2021 – KRC Genk (3)3 – 3(5) Club Brugge
Jupiler Liga
11/28 2021 – KRC Genk 2 – 3 Club Brugge
Europa League Grp. H
11/25 2021 – Dinamo Zagreb 1 – 1 KRC Genk
Jupiler Liga
11/21 2021 – Beerschot 2 – 0 KRC Genk
Rapid Vienna – Statistics & current form
The footballers from Hütteldorf are also taking part in the Europa League or its predecessor competition for the ninth time. However, the success in the current edition is moderate. Only the somewhat surprising home victory against Dinamo Zagreb can be seen as a positive experience in the course of the group phase.
The Green-Whites therefore now have their backs to the wall and, as mentioned at the beginning, must play to win. Against this background, an open exchange of blows can be expected, which is why odds on at least three goals by the final whistle on top are a good idea for Genk against Rapid Wien.
Goals have not been in short supply in the games between the two teams so far
The fact that two teams with a shaky defence are facing each other in this match also speaks in favour of this. Both teams have already scored nine goals each. The additional prediction is also supported by the fact that the Belgians have scored an average of 3.5 goals in their home matches, while the Austrian runners-up have scored an average of three goals in their away matches.
Coach Ferdinand Feldhofer and his team also drew 1-1 with Austria in the Viennese derby last Sunday, but the draw was a disappointment for the 32-time Austrian champions, who last won the title 13 years ago, because the players from the “Weststadion” had a much greater share of the game and more chances.
The only goal in the match was once again scored by Ercan Kara, who has netted in the last two league games and, after scoring in double figures in the Bundesliga last season, now has a 50 per cent goal rate after 16 league games.
Kara not convincing in group phase so far
However, he has failed to score in the Europa League group stage despite making five appearances. A meagre yield, after the 25-year-old scored three times in the games against Zorya Luhansk and Anorthosis during the qualification.
The match-winner in the only win against Dinamo Zagreb, Marco Grull, is also out of form. The 23-year-old Austrian international almost single-handedly secured the home win against the Croats with a goal and an assist. Since that match, he has not managed another goal or assist in his subsequent eight appearances in an SK or national team jersey.
Predicted line-up of Rapid Wien:
Gartler – Greiml – Hofmann – Uhlmann – Stojkovic – Ljubicic – Aiwu – Arase – Grull – Fountas – Kara
Last matches played by Rapid Wien:
Bundesliga
12/05 2021 – Rapid Wien 1 – 1 Austria Wien
11/28 2021 – Ried 2 – 2 Rapid Wien
Europa League Grp. H
11/25 2021 – Rapid Vienna 0 – 2 West Ham
Bundesliga
11/20 2021 – Rapid Vienna 1 – 0 Altach
11/07 2021 – Wolfsberger AC 4 – 1 Rapid Wien
Genk – Rapid Vienna Direct comparison / H2H-balance
The four-time Belgian champions prevailed in the first leg in mid-September, as described, with 1-0 away at the Allianz Stadion against the club from the 14th district. Thanks to the win, the country’s reigning cup winners now hold a narrow lead in the overall balance of the pairing with two wins, one defeat and two draws. For the next edition of Genk vs. Rapid Wien, the odds are already leaning towards a win for the Blue and Whites again.
Genk – Rapid Wien Tip
With Dinamo Zagreb and West Ham, the Belgians and Austrians had been drawn very difficult group opponents. The Hammers are fourth in the Premier League and have long been a candidate for the top flight, and the Croats are in the Europa League solely because of their disgraceful elimination in the qualifiers of the top flight against the Moldovans from Tiraspol, who were thus represented in the Champions League for the first time.
In view of this, it is little wonder that KRC and Rapid have to group themselves after the two aforementioned clubs so far. For the match between Genk and Rapid Vienna, however, the tip includes a home win.
The home side have been slightly stronger than the Viennese in their encounters with Zagreb and West Ham, with at least two draws, and have already won the first leg against SK away from home. Furthermore, the home advantage is in favour of the “Smurfs” and with Paul Onuachu, their top goal-getter is available again after an injury.
In addition, former co-coach Glen Riddersholm will celebrate his debut as a new coach in the match, which will give the home team an extra boost of motivation. Bwin offers betting odds of 1.71 on the match between Genk and Rapid Wien.
