Preview:Club Brugge vs Genk - prediction, team news, lineups

In each side’s opening game of the Belgian Pro League season, Club Brugge will host Genk at Jan Breydelstadion on Sunday.

Fresh from winning the Belgian Super Cup against Union SG on July 20, the hosts will hope to better their second-placed finish from last term, though their 2024-25 placement was one better than Genk.

Match preview

Club Brugge had to overcome a 1-0 deficit to win the Belgian Super Cup, claiming the trophy for the 18th time in their history.

The hosts finished three points behind Union SG in their championship playoff group last season, though they final points tally of 53 was three better than they managed in 2023-24, when they won the title.

FCB’s 86 top-flight goals in 2024-25 was the best return in the division and was in fact 15 better than the champions, but they conceded 42 times, 14 more than Union.

Boss Nicky Hayen oversaw an unbeaten final six games in their most recent league campaign – winning four – though they only won two of their five friendly fixtures.

Club Brugge also achieved victories in five of their last seven competitive home outings while losing just once.

As for Genk, they only finished six points behind their hosts in their championship playoff group, but they will be disappointed to have not won the title considering they finished first in the regular season.

The away side’s record of 1.7 goals scored per game last term was the third best in the division, but it was significantly less than Club Brugge’s return (2.2).

Manager Thorsten Fink will hope that his team's displays against the home side improve considering they have lost four of their last five clashes while settling for a stalemate on one occasion.

Blue-White were victorious in two of their three pre-season friendlies, and they ended the 2024-25 campaign on a high of two wins.

However, Genk’s form on the road in the closing stages of the season was poor, with the club losing two and drawing one of their final four matches on the road.

Club Brugge form (all competitions):

Team News

Veteran Club Brugge goalkeeper Simon Mignolet can be pencilled in on the teamsheet, while central defenders Joel Ordonez and Brandon Mechele will almost certainly shield him.

Number eights Raphael Onyedika and Hans Vanaken are probable selections ahead of defensive midfielder Ludovit Reis.

Striker Romeo Vermant scored nine league goals last season, and he will hope that Christos Tzolis and Hugo Vetlesen can supply him with the chances he needs to open his account in 2025-26.

As for Genk, Hendrik Van Crombrugge is a candidate to start in goal now that Mike Penders has joined Chelsea, and he may be shielded by centre-backs Mujaid Sadick and Matte Smets.

Midfielders Bryan Heynen and Nikolas Sattlberger are likely to be positioned behind number 10 Konstantinos Karetsas.

Elsewhere, expect wingers Jarne Steuckers and Yira Collins Sor to play either side of centre-forward Hyun-gyu Oh.

Club Brugge possible starting lineup:

Mignolet; Spileers, Ordonez, Mechele, Seys; Onyedika, Reis, Vanaken; Vetlesen, Vermant, Tzolis

Genk possible starting lineup:

Crombrugge; Ouahdi, Sadick, Smets, Ditu; Heynen, Sattlberger; Steuckers, Karetsas, Sor; Oh

We say: Club Brugge 2-1 Genk

Club Brugge come into the clash on a high following their Super Cup victory, and they will be confident on Sunday.

Genk are certain to pose a challenge given they are one of the division’s strongest sides, but considering they have struggled against their hosts in recent matches, they could suffer yet another defeat.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.