Rangers and Genk Set for Europa League Clash Amidst Pressure
An underperforming team, a disappointing start to the season, and a manager facing intense scrutiny from supporters calling for his removal. Does this sound familiar?
For Rangers, read Genk. For Russell Martin, read Thorsten Fink. The similarities are striking as these two clubs prepare to meet at Ibrox in their Europa League opener on Thursday night.
However, unlike Martin, Fink has already completed a year in charge. His first season began promisingly but faltered towards the end, culminating in just two wins from their last eight league matches. This disappointing performance has left Genk six points adrift of Club Brugge and nine behind champions Union St. Gilloise, both of whom have visited Ibrox recently with very different outcomes.
Despite this, Genk achieved their highest league finish since being runners-up in the 2022-23 season, and supporters had hoped for another title challenge under the German manager this year. (For context, their last league title came in 2019 under Philippe Clement.)
However, such aspirations appear increasingly unlikely at this early stage, as they currently sit in 14th place, just two spots above the bottom, with only two wins from eight matches and already 12 points behind leaders USG.
A significant challenge for Genk has been their defensive struggles, as they have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their ten matches this season. This statistic will need to improve if they are to turn their fortunes around.
New signing Tobias Lawal has stepped in as goalkeeper following an early-season injury to Hendrik van Crombrugge, who had previously been second choice to teenager Mike Penders during the latter half of last season.
Penders, who had signed for Chelsea at the beginning of last season but returned on loan, is considered the latest in a line of exceptional goalkeepers produced by Genk’s esteemed academy, which boasts notable alumni such as Thibaut Courtois.
The departure of last season's top scorer, Tolu Arokodare, to Wolves has also been a setback. Arokodare's 23 goals earned him a £23 million transfer to Molineux, although he left on September 1, by which time Genk's decline in form was already noticeable.
On a positive note for Genk, another recent talent from their impressive academy, Kostas Karetsas, is expected to be fit to play after missing the last few games.
The 17-year-old Greece international, who impressed Scotland during his first start at Hampden in March following a promising debut in the Nations League playoff, was born and raised in Genk. He was courted by the Belgium national team before choosing to represent the country of his parents.
Like the rest of the Genk squad, Karetsas has yet to find his rhythm this season, but he enjoyed his last visit to Glasgow and will be eager to make a significant impact this time.
Oh Returns to Glasgow
Another player to watch is Genk's current number nine, Hyeon-gyu Oh. His time at Celtic was not particularly fruitful; he scored 12 goals in 47 appearances but started just six games before leaving for Belgium last summer. There, he managed 12 goals and strong performances, which initially seemed to set him up for a lucrative transfer to Stuttgart.
However, that move fell through due to medical concerns just before the transfer deadline, meaning he could be the one leading Genk's attack against Rangers on Thursday.
Thomas Buffel, a former favorite at both clubs, has predicted a win for the Belgians at Ibrox. Yet, this Genk team falls short of the caliber displayed by Club Brugge, who recently overwhelmed Rangers.
Neither Genk nor Rangers enter this match in peak form, but if either team finds their stride on Thursday, victory could be within reach.