Tonight Anderlecht play the return Champions League qualifying match against AEL Limassol. The first leg was won by the Cypriots 2-1 and new coach John van den Brom will be feeling the pressure that comes with coaching Belgium’s most media-intense club. The press and the Anderlecht President have reminded van den Brom that qualification for… Read More »
Four weeks ago, just before Chelsea thrashed Genk 5-0, I wrote “It would have been good to see Franky Vercauteren and his 2010-2011 side all fit and raring to go … but that was then and now is now!” And so it also came to pass in Valencia. Last night’s 7-0 drubbing in Spain says… Read More »
Champions League: Valencia – Racing Genk (November 23, 20.45) Racing Genk go to Valencia tonight knowing that a defeat or a no score draw would put them out of Europe and a score draw would give them a slight chance of Europa League qualification. A victory, of course, would have their fans dancing in the… Read More »
Belgian clubs did themselves proud this week in Europe and it could easily have been better still. Chelsea were there for the taking at Genk but the home side only started playing once Koteles had saved Luiz’s penalty. Chelsea did not seem totally focused, a chance missed. Anderlecht and Standard Liege both had easy wins,… Read More »
Two weeks ago, Genk went to Stamford Bridge and were thrashed. Tonight’s game, therefore, would seem to be a foregone conclusion. However, events since then could put a slightly different complexion on things. Chelsea have lost their last two league games, one of them being a 5-3 defeat at home to Arsenal. As for Genk,… Read More »
Genk arrived in London with poor form behind them and a makeshift team (see preview below). The inevitable happened and now all they can do is move on. It is to be hoped that some of Genk’s walking wounded are back for the return match but it’s hard to be very positive as Chelsea will… Read More »
Since Racing Genk won the Jupiler League championship, there has been a succession of problems at the Cristal Arena. Perhaps unsurprisingly, a few players left as they had been in the spotlight due to the title win. They included Thibaut Courtois – to Chelsea – Eric Matoukou and Liverpool loanee Chris Mavinga. That decimated the… Read More »
Although Genk opened up the encounter well, the Belgian team faded once Lars Bender had given Leverkusen the lead. There was no doubting that the better team won and Genk are now fighting for a third place finish. Kevin De Bruyne started the game which was probably not wise, as he had just come back… Read More »
Jupiler League champions Racing Genk play Bayer Leverkusen tonight in what will be a moment of truth for the Belgian team. If they lose, and they don’t start favourites, then they really will be playing for third place in Group E in the remainder of the games. Their draw with Valencia in their first game… Read More »