Genk play Red Bull Salzburg in Group E in what is set to be a battle for third place

Belgian Pro League champions Genk face Austrian Bundesliga champions Red Bull Salzburg in what sets up to be a battle for third for both sides and a place in the Europa League up for grabs.

Red Bull Salzburg are currently unbeaten in the league and will look to stretch that great run of form as they host Genk. The Belgian outfit are currently ninth in the Belgian Pro League and haven’t been on form and will hope to get back to winning ways against the Austrian team.

Team news

Salzburg are likely to miss Alexander Walke, Jasper van der Warff, Marin Pongracic as all of them are carrying injuries.

Genk will be without goalkeeper Danny Vukovic who is still injured. Mbwana Samatta may return aginst Salzburg with the forward missing the last game against Charlerloi due to knee problems. It may be a game where Neto Borges returns after his foot injury.

Red Bull Salzburg manager Jesse Marsch spoke to the press about the mentality ahead of the upcoming game against Genk.

“We are ready for an intensive game. Our aim is very clear though – we want to win.

“Genk are in general a strong team that are very good in possession. We need to make our pressing count. We need to keep the game fast and intensive.”

KRC Genk’s forward Mbwana Samatta spoke about it being “a dream to play at Anfield against Liverpool in the Champions League.”

“We are not among the favourite teams to do well in comparison with Liverpool, Napoli as well as Salzburg because they have vast experience in the competition.

“Regardless, we should not forget football has unpredictable results. For a long time, Genk has not played in the Champions League, as such, we will prepare ourselves well to stage a good resistance against the big teams in the group.”

Head-to-head

This will be first game to have been ever played between the two sides and either team could be victorious in this fixture.

Expected line-ups

Red Bull Salzburg XI- Stankovic; Kristensen, Andre Ramalho, Vallci, Wober; Minamino, Bernede, Mwepu, Szoboszlai; Hwang Hee-Chan, Haaland

Genk XI – Coucke; De Norre, Lucumi, Uronen, Cuesta; Berge, Heynen; Ito, Hrosovsky, Bongonda; Samatta