Genk vs Mechelen Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Belgian Pro League
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THE FACTS
When is Genk vs Mechelen on and what time does it start? Genk vs Mechelen will take place on Sunday 4th June, 2023 – 17:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Genk vs Mechelen? Visit each team’s official website for the latest ticket information
Where can I watch Genk vs Mechelen in the UK? Genk vs Mechelen will not be televised live and cannot be streamed in the UK
THE LOWDOWN
GENK
For much of last season, Genk sat at the top-of-the-table but endured a difficult run-in, pretty much starting from the start of this calendar year. Under the management of Wouter Vrancken, they missed out on the Belgian title in dramatic circumstances on the final day of the season before early eliminations from both the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League this summer.
Prior to the October international break, their form had begun to pick up once again with just one defeat in their opening ten matches but, remarkably, they have drawn six of those ten games, leaving them outside of the top six ahead of this weekend. Their most recent outing, a 1-1 draw with Gent, was their fourth successive Jupiler Pro League draw.
MECHELEN
MECHELEN
After a slow start to the season last year, Mechelen appointed former Burnley and Belgium international midfielder Steven Defour as their new boss. They survived comfortably and finished firmly in mid-table but the reduction of the league from 18 to 16 teams means that mid-table is a lot smaller and so is, therefore, the room to manoeuvre in terms of underperformance.
They have started the 2023/24 Jupiler Pro League campaign with three victories, two draws and five defeats in their opening ten matches. Those ten matches have been fairly low-scoring with just 11 goals scored and twelve conceded so far. They come into this on the back of collecting just one point in their last four matches.
THE TEAM NEWS
GENK
Wouter Vrancken is without any injuries or suspensions for this weekend so has a fully fit and available squad for this weekend’s encounter against Mechelen.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Vandevoordt; El Ouahdi, Sadick, McKenzie, Arteaga; Galarza, Heynen; Paintsil, El Khannouss, Fadera; Zeqiri
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
MECHELEN
Steven Defour has no fresh injuries or suspensions so they could well also name an unchanged side for this weekend, much like Genk and Vrancken.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Coucke; Walsh, Vanlerberghe, Cobbaut, Foulon; Pflucke, Mrabti, Konate, Storm; Schoofs, Lauberbach
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Malede (Injured), Belghali (Injured), Van Hof (Injured), Falchou (Injured)
THE PREDICTION
In the eight games of this weekend in the Jupiler Pro League, this one could well be one of the more one-sided encounters. If it had taken place about a month and a half or so ago then Mechelen would have fancied their chances against Genk but now, instead, the form table has flipped around and Genk will actually be seeking to inflict a fairly heavy defeat and Genk are firm favourites for this one, especially with their home advantage.
TIP: GENK TO WIN
