Genk vs Antwerp Preview & Prediction | 2022-23 Belgian First Division A
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THE FACTS
When is Genk vs Antwerp on and what time does it start? Genk vs Antwerp will take place on Sunday 4th June, 2023 – 17:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Genk vs Antwerp? Visit each team’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is Genk vs Antwerp on in the UK? Genk vs Antwerp will not be televised live in the UK
Where can I stream Genk vs Antwerp in the UK? Genk vs Antwerp cannot be streamed live in the UK
THE LOWDOWN
Genk
After losing to reigning champions Club Brugge on the opening day of the 2022/23 Jupiler Pro League season in July, Genk recovered extremely well. Mid-way through the campaign, they appeared destined to run away with reclaiming the Belgian title for the first time since 2019. However, they have endured a difficult few months and now head into the final round of fixtures sitting third in the table but still in with a shout of finishing top.
Under the management of Wouter Vrancken, they come into this on the back of a much-needed and comfortable 3-1 win away to the aforementioned Club Brugge, last weekend. That win means they begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting just a point behind the joint league leaders Royale Union Saint-Gilloise and Royal Antwerp at the top of the Championship Round playoff group.
Genk’s inconsistency in the calendar year of 2023 has been stark and has majorly let down their supporters, who would have expected to have wrapped the title up a few weeks ago given their first-half of the season. That victory against Club Brugge was just their sixth league win in their last 17 matches.
Antwerp
At the start of the 2022/23 Jupiler Pro League season, Mark van Bommel’s Royal Antwerp, after a summer of intriguing and impressive recruitment, began with nine successive victories. They endured a difficult run through the mid part of the season but have returned to form in the nick of time to begin this final day round of fixtures sitting at the top-of-the-table, above Royale Union Saint-Gilloise on goal difference.
Those two sides shared a 1-1 draw with Union SG last weekend, with ten-man Union SG equalising in the 80th minute, via Cameron Puertas. If Antwerp had held on then they would have been three points clear at the top. They have collected just a point in their last two matches, too, having gone into that draw against Union SG on the back of a 2-0 defeat at the Jan Breydel Stadion against Club Brugge.
Antwerp have won the Belgian title just four times and the most season of those four was the 1956/57 campaign. However, they have the title in their hands ahead of this final day and they are seeking to complete the domestic double after winning the Belgian Cup a couple of months ago.
THE PREDICTION
It is set up to be a dramatic late afternoon on Sunday with three of the four clubs in the Championship Round dreaming of winning the title. The final day permutations are clear for both of these sides. Wouter Vrancken's Genk must win to stand any chance of winning the title. If they win and Union SG drop points at home to Club Brugge then they will win the title. If Antwerp win then, as long as Union SG don't better their result by four or more goals against Club Brugge then they will be crowned champions. If it is a draw then Union SG will win the title if they beat Club Brugge. It is going to be an extremely tense affair but Genk will seek to 'get at' the visitors to emulate their attacking play throughout the season, which has seen them score 86 goals in 39 games. There is a pattern of play that can be imagined whereby Genk score early and Antwerp have to hammer at the door so, whilst it may be tense, it will certainly be entertaining.
TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
