Genk and Basel return to action in the Europa League when they go head to head at Cegeka Arena on Thursday. Having both dropped points in league action at the weekend, both sides will be looking to return to winning ways on the continental scene and move into the playoff places.
FootballWhispers’ Genk vs Basel prediction takes a look at the odds of both sides securing all three points on Wednesday.
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Genk vs Basel prediction: The Blauw-Wit to make the most of home advantage
Key stats
- There have been fewer than three goals scored in five of Genk’s last seven games, with a combined 16 goals netted across the seven matches.
- Basel have failed to win five of their most recent six away matches, losing three and picking up two draws, having won each of the three games preceding this run.
- Genk have picked up just two wins from their last eight home games across all competitions, while losing four and claiming two draws since the start of September.
Correct score prediction: Genk 2-1 Basel
Basel have struggled for consistency in recent weeks and will journey to Belgium looking to kickstart a solid run of form on the continental scene. Both sides are evenly matched on paper, but we fancy Genk to come away with a narrow victory against Basel, who have lost each of their two away games in the Europa League.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Genk backed to prevail in front of their home crowd
- HOME: 1/1 (2.00) – 50%
- DRAW: 27/10 (3.70) – 27%
- AWAY: 12/5 (3.40) – 29.4%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
The bookmakers have Genk as favourites to come away with all three points on Wednesday, as indicated by their 50% win probability.
Basel have been given a 29.4% chance of getting the job done at Cegeka Arena, while there is a 27% possibility of the tie ending all square.
While we take a deeper look into both teams, you can take a peek at some of FootballWhispers’ best picks and predictions for the European fixtures in today’s free football betting tips.
Most recent H2Hs: Nothing between the two teams
Genk and Basel have only met twice in the past, both of which came in the Europa League, with the two encounters ending in stalemates.
Basel fought back from two goals down on home turf to salvage a 2-2 draw in Group G back in October 2012, two months before both sides settled for a goalless draw in the return fixture.
Genk preview: Four players ruled out
Genk were guilty of a lack of cutting edge in front of goal on Sunday when they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Mechelen in their Belgian Pro League clash.
With the hosts squandering several scoring opportunities, Spanish defender Jose Marsa grabbed the headlines for Mechelen as he netted the only goal of the game to hand them all three points at Cegeka Arena.
Prior to that, the Blauw-Wit were on an eight-game unbeaten run across all competitions, picking up four draws and four wins, including a thrilling 4-3 victory over Portuguese outfit Braga in their last Europa League outing on November 6.
With two wins and one draw from their four Europa League games, Thorsten Fink’s men have enjoyed a decent campaign so far and are in contention for a playoff spot, as they sit 13th in the table with seven points from a possible 12, three points behind second-placed Freiburg.
However, Genk will return to action on the continental scene without the services of Zakaria El Ouahdi, Junya Ito, Ken Nkuba and Joris Kayembe, who have all been ruled out due to injuries.
Predicted lineup: Crombrugge (GK), Nkuba, Sadick, Smets, Kayembe; Heymans, Heynen, Hrosovsky, Karetsas, Oh & Sor
Last five games
- Genk 0-1 Mechelen
- Gent 1-1 Genk
- Braga 3-4 Genk
- Westerlo 0-1 Genk
- Genk 3-0 RWDM Brussels
Basel preview: Looking to stop away woes
Basel failed to arrest their slump in form in the Swiss Super League on Sunday when they were held to a 1-1 draw by bottom-dwellers Grasshopper Zurich at the Letzigrund Stadium.
Ludovic Magnin’s side are without a win in four of their most recent five league matches, losing twice and picking up two draws, a run which has seen them fall into fourth place in the table, eight points off leaders Thun.
On the continental scene, Basel have also struggled for consistency this season, claiming two wins from their four Europa League games so far, while also losing twice, both of which have come on their travels.
However, a brace from Xherdan Shaqiri and Ibrahim Salah’s late strike ensured Basel secured maximum points in their last Europa League outing on November 6, when they edged out Romanian giants FCSB 3-1 at St. Jakob-Park.
Basel have picked up seven points from the first 12 available in the Europa League to sit 17th in the standings, but they could move level on points with seventh-placed Olympique Lyon with a win at Cegeka Arena.
Predicted lineup: Hitz (GK), Cisse, Daniliuc, Barisic, Vouilloz, Leroy, Metinho, Traore, Soticek, Shaqiri & Broschinski
Last five games
- Grasshopper Zurich 1-1 Basel
- Basel 0-1 Lugano
- Basel 3-1 FCSB
- Young Boys 0-0 Basel
- Basel 2-0 Zurich
Player to watch — Xherdan Shaqiri
With his assist against Grasshopper Zurich at the weekend, veteran forward Xherdan Shaqiri now boast five goals and eight assists in 14 league matches as he continues to make his mark in the Swiss top flight.
The 34-year-old has also been on song for Magnin’s men in the Europa League, where he has been involved in four of Basel’s six goals so far, netting three and setting up one in four appearances.
Shaqiri should lead the line for Basel on Wednesday, forming the attacking quartet with Benie Traore, Marin Soticek and German striker Moritz Broschinski.