Unexpected Standings

Genk and Ferencvaros find themselves unexpectedly positioned in the middle of the group stage table. Many initially anticipated lower achievements for both, especially the Hungarian club. Can Ferencvaros defy these expectations?

Genk’s Road Performance

A week ago, Genk played away against Rangers, a team that suffered a crushing defeat from another Belgian club, Club Brugge (1-3 at home and 0-6 away), in late August. On paper, Genk appeared significantly weaker than their hosts, which was reflected in the odds, around 2.9. However, the Belgians secured a 1-0 victory. Rangers’ difficulties began towards the end of the first half with a direct red card, followed by a penalty, which Oh Hyeon-gyu failed to convert. Nevertheless, he scored in the 55th minute after a swift counter-attack.

Ferencvaros’s Resilience

Ferencvaros’s first match also saw a sending off, this time from their own ranks. From the 37th minute, the hosts played with ten men after their right-winger, Cebrail Makreckis, was dismissed. Despite trailing 0-1, the team showed remarkable character. Although clear chances were rare before the break (only two off-target shots), Ferencvaros became more active after half-time, registering eight shots and an xG of 0.90. In the 94th minute, striker Aleksandar Pesic headed in an equalizer from a cross into Viktoria Plzen’s box. This draw was primarily due to the Czech club’s inefficiency in converting their opportunities.

Expert’s Conclusion

Despite Ferencvaros earning a point, I agree with the bookmakers’ assessment: Genk clearly appears stronger and could even provoke another red card from the Hungarian side. A home victory is anticipated for Genk.