Genk vs Freiburg Preview & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Europa League | Round of 16

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Belgian outfit Genk have stumbled into the round of 16 of the UEFA Europa League as they now take on a Freiburg side that will fancy themselves to go deep.

Kick-off date/time:

How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+

Key stats

• This is the first UEFA meeting between Genk and Freiburg, and it also marks Freiburg’s first encounter with Belgian opposition in UEFA competition.
• Genk have won only two of their ten previous UEFA matches against German teams (D3 L5).
• Genk have won two and lost two of their four previous UEFA two-legged ties against German teams.
• Genk’s only previous appearance in the UEFA Europa League round of 16 came in the 2016/17 season, when they defeated Gent 6-3 on aggregate.
• Genk have lost only one of their last eight UEFA Europa League matches (W5 D2).
• Genk have lost only two of their last 12 UEFA home matches (W4 D6).
• Genk have won their last three UEFA two-legged ties.
• Freiburg are making their third UEFA Europa League round of 16 appearance in the last four seasons, having been eliminated at this stage by Juventus in 2022/23 and by West Ham in 2023/24.
• Freiburg were unbeaten in their first seven UEFA Europa League matches this season (W5 D2) before finally suffering a 1-0 defeat to Lille on Matchday 8.
• Freiburg have lost four of their last six UEFA two-legged ties. 

Genk vs Freiburg prediction

Genk head into this one on the back of an indifferent Belgian Jupiler Pro League campaign as they sit eighth in the table domestically. In the UEFA Europa League, Genk managed to just about overcome Dinamo Zagreb after extra-time in the knockout playoff round, having been beaten 3-1 at home inside 90 minutes in the second-leg.

Freiburg, under the management of Julian Schuster, are remaining competitive in the Bundesliga, despite the congested fixture list, as they sit in the top-half of the Bunesliga table. In a topsy turvy encounter against Bayer Leverkusen at the Europa-Park Stadion last weekend, Freiburg shared a thrilling 3-3 draw.

Freiburg are in entertaining, albeit inconsistent, form of late and, while they remain favourites in Belgium, Genk should be capable of bloodying their nose.

Genk vs Freiburg tip: Freiburg to win & both teams to score