FC Salzburg V Genk
Tuesday 17th September 2019 – 20:00 Kick-Off
UEFA Champions League
Pick: Salzburg to WIN
Odds: 8/13
Bookmaker: Sportingbet
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 57/100 | 18/5 | 43/10 |
* (All betting odds displayed were correct as of 15th September 2019 at 14:00)
Preview: Two relatively inexperienced Champions League clubs, with just three previous group stage appearances between them. There can be little doubt as to which of them arrives in the better frame of mind, with FC Salzburg enjoying a perfect seven-match winning start to the new season in Austria and must surely be licking their lips at the prospect of facing a Genk outfit which has already fallen to several defeats in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League.
UEFA Champions League Betting – 22Bet
FC Salzburg Preview – Imperious Austrians to prove too strong yet again?
Making only their second ever appearance at a group stage of a Champions League – and their first since the 1994-95 season – are Austrian champions FC Salzburg. The club have come close on numerous occasions since but have often come unstuck in the qualifying rounds, more recently last season when losing on away goals to Serbian side Red Star Belgrade. However, their performance immediately after in the Europa League suggest this is not a team to be taken lightly.
The losers in the Champions League Play-Offs are dropped straight into the Europa League group stage, and that was the case for Salzburg in 2018-19. It was an opportunity grasped with both hands by a club which has been crowned Austrian Bundesliga winners in each of the past six campaigns, not even dropping a point in a tricky looking group consisting of Celtic, RB Leipzig and Rosenborg.
Salzburg would record convincing wins over both Celtic (3-1) and Rosenborg (3-0) as hosts, but the 1-0 success earned over German side RB Leipzig (1-0) was arguably the most impressive of the lot. The team would go on to reach the Round of Sixteen, thrashing both Club Brugge (4-0) and Napoli (3-1) in Austria before eventually exiting at the hands of the latter after a 4-3 aggregate defeat.
Meanwhile, on the domestic front this season it has been sheer perfection so far. Put simply, Salzburg have blown all opposition away: seven wins from seven games played, scoring at an absurd rate of over 5 goals a game (their tally of 34 goals is over twice the amount anyone else has managed!) and warmed up for this European adventure with a 7-2 hammering of Hartberg at home on Saturday.
Genk Preview – Europe a welcome escape from domestic struggles?
Belgian champions KRC Genk will be participating in their third group stage of the Champions League. It will be their first, however, since a disastrous campaign in 2011-12 when failing to win a single game, as well as losing all three of their away encounters, as they finished bottom of a tough section. Since then, their record on the continent has been mightily impressive.
Genk have made four appearances in the Europa League group stage since last featuring in the Champions League and were good enough to top their sections on each occasion. The most recent of those occurred last season, topping a group with Besiktas, Malmo and Sarpsborg with a record of W3 D2 L1. Their only away win, though, came in Turkey – a stunning 4-2 victory at Besiktas. They drew in Malmo (2-2) and were surprisingly beaten 2-0 at Sarpsborg.
As we can clearly see, Genk were very leaky on their travels in Europe last season. Their early exploits back home in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League hardly bode well regarding any improvements having been made on that particular front. Seven games in to the new season and their form remains patchy at best. Friday’s 2-1 defeat away to Charleroi was a third loss of the campaign (W3 D1 L3) and leaves them languishing in mid-table, both out of sorts and out of touch of the early leaders.
FC Salzburg V Genk Key Facts:
- Salzburg topped their Europa League group last season without dropping a single point.
- Genk also finished top of their Europa League group in 2018-19, but did secure only the one win on their travels (W1 D1 L1).
- Austrian side Salzburg boast a perfect record in their domestic league (W7 D0 L0), whereas Genk have endured a mixed start in Belgium (W3 D1 L3).
Betting Summary
FC Salzburg have dominated the landscape of Austrian football for some time now. This season looks set to be no different after a stunning start comprising of seven wins from seven, scoring a staggering 34 goals in the process. They are no one-trick-pony either, as last season seen them produce another dominant display to top their Europa League group with a flawless record of six wins out of six, winning all five matches staged in Austria overall.
Genk were also seen topping their Europa League section last season, but their early season form has been nowhere near as impressive. Losing 2-1 at Charleroi on Friday marked the third occasion in seven league outings in which they were beaten, and their patchy form is unlikely to inspire much confidence ahead a difficult trip to face a team bang in form.
There is so much to like about this Salzburg side. Superb form domestically will mean confidence is brimming, while their sensational efforts in last season’s Europa League are eye-catching to say the least. Genk are vulnerable at the moment and will do well to escape Austria with a positive outcome. Four of Salzburg’s five home victories in Europe last season featured at least three goals scored in the match: Salzburg & Over 2.5 Goals appeals at 6/5 with Sportingbet.
