Genk play host to Napoli in the Champions League on Wednesday evening looking to bounce back from their 6-2 drubbing at the hands of Red Bull Salzburg on matchday one.
As for the visitors, Carlo Ancelotti is aware that another three points against their Belgian opponents will put them a step closer to securing a top-two spot in Group E come December 10.
Match preview
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While Genk were given a rude awakening to life in the Champions League against Red Bull Salzburg, boss Felice Mazzu will feel that his squad are still capable of achieving a first ever appearance in the last 16 of the competition.
Given that four of Salzburg's six goals came during a spell before the break, Mazzu will perhaps feel that the scoreline was harsh on his players, who showed character in the second half of the fixture in Austria.
The make-up of their group means that they have not been provided with the easiest of tasks when it comes to reaching the knockout stages, but back-to-back wins in domestic action indicate that they have shaken off the disappointment of two weeks ago.
With a game in hand, they are in seventh position in the league table, although their efforts on both fronts will only be aided if Mbwana Samatta can produce a consistent run of form in the final third, having only scored once since August 23.
Napoli have recorded four wins from their opening half a dozen outings in Serie A this season, but defeats to Juventus and Cagliari have left last year's runners-up well adrift of leaders Inter Milan.
While Ancelotti will not necessarily find himself under much scrutiny, the experienced boss will be aware that he is under pressure to deliver in this competition after failing to progress past the group stages in 2018.
Their struggles in home games with Cagliari and Brescia suggests that there is much work to be done behind the scenes, during and after the games on Wednesday and away at Torino at the weekend.
Despite most of their attacking players contributing in the final third since the middle of August, Dries Mertens continues to be the standout player, having scored five goals from six appearances in all competitions.
Genk form: WDLLWW
Napoli form: LWWWLW
Team News
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Ancelotti has been left with a selection dilemma in defence after both Kostas Manolas and Nikola Maksimovic sustained injuries against Brescia.
With the pair likely to sit out the fixture in Belgium, Kalidou Koulibaly and Mario Rui should start in the centre of the backline.
Lorenzo Insigne could be handed a recall in attack, potentially in place of Fernando Llorente.
After a weekend off from domestic action, Mazzu will hope to have the majority of his squad available for selection.
Genk goalkeeper Danny Vukovic remains out of contention with an Achilles injury.
Genk possible starting lineup: Coucke; Maehle, Dewaest, Lucumi, Uronen; Ito, Berge, Hrosovsky, Ndongala; Heynen; Samatta
Napoli possible starting lineup: Ospina; Lorenzo, Koulibaly, Rui, Ghoulam; Callejon, Allan, Ruiz, Zielinski; Mertens, Insigne
We say: Genk 0-3 Napoli
While Genk will hope to give a better account of themselves in front of their own supporters, we cannot see anything but a convincing win for Napoli, who will be motivated to remain ahead of Liverpool ahead of their return fixture in November.
Darren Plant
