Our prediction for this Belgium Pro League match:
All eyes will be on Jan Breydel Stadion when Club Brugge and Genk take on each other in the Jupiler League derby on Matchday 32. Club Brugge are on a five-game winning run in the Belgian top flight, but they are still seven points behind league leaders Royale Union SG. The reigning champions need to keep on winning if they are to melt their advantage in the standings, but this game will be anything but a walk in the park for the home side.
Armenia international Sargis Adamyan should keep his place in the starting XI after scoring a brace in the last league match, while midfielder Ebeguowen Otasowie has been tested positive for coronavirus. Genk, on the other hand, failed to impress in a 1-0 loss to St. Truiden, which is probably the main reason why home win should be considered. There are no fresh injury worries in the away side.
Highlighted Player (Simon Mignolet):
Simon Luc Hildebert Mignolet is a Belgium goalkeeper born on 6 March 1988 in Sint-Truiden. He began his career in a club from his hometown, making 100 league appearances for Sint-Truidense before moving to Sunderland in 2010.
Mignolet would go on to spent next four years at the Stadium of Light, making 90 Premier League appearances. As one of world’s most talented goalkeepers, the Belgium international signed for Liverpool in the summer of 2013, and he has since been the club’s first choice goalkeeper. Performing admirably most of the time, but also committing cheap mistakes at times, Mignolet has yet to win over the Liverpool fans, but remains highly regarded in his native country.
The talented shot-stopper has been a member of the Belgium national team since 2011, earning over 20 caps for the Red Devils, but he has been playing second fiddle to Chelsea star Thibaut Courtois over the last few years.
Highlighted Team (Genk):
Founded in 1988, Genk are considered one of the youngest clubs in Belgium. Luminus Arena is the home stadium of the club, the capacity of the venue is 24 956 and it was built in 1999. Speaking of UEFA matches, the stadium can hold 21 500 spectators.
Genk clinched one Belgian Pro League trophy in the 20th century, with the team winning the 1989/1999 title. They finished the season with 73 points, two points clear of second-placed Club Brugge. Genk won their second domestic trophy in 2002 and the team lifted the Belgian Pro League title in 2011 as well. Speaking of the Belgian Cup, the club clinched their fourth trophy in the competition in 2013.
The club is well known for their brilliant school and you should bear in mind that the likes of Steven Defour, Christian Benteke, Thibaut Courtois, Divock Origi and Kevin De Bruyne are all products of Genk’s football academy.