Genk vs Freiburg Prediction: Booking for Belgian Bryan

A 6-4 aggregate victory over Dinamo Zagreb in the Uefa Europa League knockout phase play-offs last month saw Racing Genk advance to the last 16 of the competition, where they have been drawn against German side SC Freiburg, who finished seventh in the league phase, just two places and one points ahead of the Belgians.

Below are my Genk vs Freiburg predictions, supported by all the latest team news, ahead of Thursday’s first leg at Cegeka Arena (20:00 GMT, TNT Sports 4).

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

Team News

Genk don’t appear to have any injury concerns, so head coach Nicky Hayen looks to have a full complement to choose from on Thursday.

Football Odds

As for Freiburg boss Julian Schuster, he is missing midfielder Maximilian Eggestein due to suspension, while Max Rosenfelder (unspecified) and Lukas Kubler (hamstring) are sidelined with injuries.

Genk vs Freiburg Odds

Genk are 8/5, or a 38.5% chance, to take a first-leg lead to Germany next week, while Freiburg are 6/4, implying a 40% probability of success, to head home with a win.

The draw is offered at 12/5, while Betfred’s Price Boosts include Freiburg To Win & Both Teams To Score at 4/1 (was 18/5).

Bet Builder - Over 0.5 Goals & Bryan Heynen (GEN) Carded @ 3/1

Genk midfielder Bryan Heynen has received seven yellow cards this season, five in the Jupiler Pro League, and two in the Europa League. His most recent caution came in his side’s 3-0 victory over Belgian rivals Gent on March 3, a booking that earned him a one-game suspension, which he served last Saturday as De Smurfen lost 2-1 at Union Saint-Gilloise.

As captain, the 29-year-old is expected to walk straight back into Hayen’s starting XI on Thursday, when he could be tasked with trying to contain Freiburg star Johan Manzambi, who has made waves this season.

Manzambi has been fouled 17 times across eight Europa League appearances this term, averaging 3.1 fouls won per 90 minutes, the same as in the Bundesliga, where he has been upended 51 times across 19 games.

Today's Football Fixtures

The 20-year-old has drawn a couple of yellow-card challenges in this season’s Europa League, one from OGC Nice midfielder Charles Vanhoutte in a 3-1 victory for Freiburg in France on November 6, and another from FC Basel right-back Keigo Tsunemoto in a 2-1 home win on September 24.

Heynen is averaging a foul per 90 in the Europa League, and I can see Manzambi getting the better of him on one or two occasions this Thursday, which could necessitate a card-worthy foul from the Belgian.

Both Teams To Score & Total Goals Over/Under +2.5 - Yes & Over 2.5 @ 11/10

Both sides have been leaking goals lately.

Genk have kept just one clean sheet in their last six games, conceding 2+ goals in four, although they’ve only been stopped from scoring in one, a 3-0 home reverse to Standard Liege on February 22.

All six of those matches saw the over 2.5 goals line land, too.

Freiburg, meanwhile, have only recorded one regulation-time shutout in their last nine contests, and that was away to second-division side Hertha Berlin in the DFB-Pokal on February 10, when both goals were scored in extra time before they advanced to the next round on penalties.

The Breisgau-Brasilianer have lost their last two games without scoring, suffering back-to-back away defeats at Hoffenheim (3-0) and Eintracht Frankfurt (2-0).

With the two teams showing vulnerabilities at the back, it may be worth backing both teams to score and over 2.5 goals at 23/20.

Football - 2 Up Early Payout

Pre-Match bets on the 2 Up Early Payout market in selected games. Paid as a winner within 5 minutes if your team goes 2 goals ahead. Selected leagues only. 90 mins only. T&Cs Apply.

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

Offers

Opt in and build your own Bet Builder (3/1+) of 3+ legs on any Europa League match on Thursday and get 100% of your stake back in Free Bets up to £5 if you lose. (Credited within 24 hours)