Preview: Genk vs Lech Poznan - prediction, team news, lineups

With one foot already in the Europa League, Genk will expect to finish the job in their playoff tie against Lech Poznan, as the pair meet again on Thursday.

Following an emphatic 5-1 victory in Poland, the Belgian side are surely bound for the league phase - barring an incredible collapse at Cegeka Arena.

Match preview

Scoring four goals before half time in Poznan put Genk in total control of what seemed, on paper, a tough playoff tie, as they ran riot during last week's first leg.

Within 25 minutes, Patrik Hrosovsky had helped himself to a brace, and the Blau-Wit fired in a total of 25 shots despite being the away team.

Thorsten Fink’s men actually entered the playoff round on the back of just one win from four in Belgium's Pro League, but they clearly left domestic woes to one side.

So, having last appeared in a UEFA group phase during their 2023-24 Conference League campaign, Genk are now one step away from reaching the Europa League for the first time in four years.

As their weekend game against Charleroi was postponed to give them every chance to progress, only complacency can stop them going though.

Unless they can produce a miraculous comeback, Lech Poznan are set to exit Europa League qualification to Genk for a second time, having lost to the Belgians back in 2018.

Led by Danish coach Niels Frederiksen, Lech won the Ekstraklasa for a ninth time last term, but they were more recently beaten by Legia Warsaw in the Polish SuperCup before suffering a 4-1 opening-day defeat to Cracovia.

Frederiksen’s men did sweep past Breidablik in Champions League qualifying last month, yet they were subsequently knocked out by Red Star Belgrade.

Now, it seems they will slip down to the Conference League - a tournament in which the Poznan club have previously enjoyed some success.

Lech made their first-ever European quarter-final in 2023, before being eliminated by Fiorentina, so a spot in Europe's third-tier competition may suit them well.

Genk Europa League form: W

Genk form (all competitions): L W D L W W

Lech Poznan Europa League form: L

Lech Poznan form (all competitions): W W L D D L

Team News

Genk boss Thorsten Fink could still be missing Andi Zeqiri due to an ankle injury, while midfielder Daan Heymans has been ruled out until next month.

Influential full-back Zakaria El Ouahdi has stated his willingness to stay at the club, despite strong transfer interest following an impressive 2024-25 campaign and three goals at the start of this season.

Also linked with a move away, last term's 23-goal striker Tolu Arokodare has yet to start in the Pro League this term, and the Nigeria international will have to vie with first-leg scorer Oh Hyeon-gyu for selection on Thursday.

Like their hosts, Lech's weekend fixture was postponed, so they have no new injury concerns: only Daniel Hakans, Patrik Walemark and Radoslaw Murawski are unavailable.

Despite his side's indifferent league start, Swedish striker Mikael Ishak has scored three goals so far this season; ex-Genoa midfielder Filip Jagiello found the net in last week's first leg, and he should link up with Ishak in the final third.

Genk possible starting lineup: Lawal; El Ouahdi, Sadick, Smers, Kayembe; Bangoura, Heynen; Steuckers, Hrosovsky, Sor; Oh

Lech Poznan possible starting lineup: Mrozek; Pereira, Skrzypczak, Gurgul, Moutinho; Thordarson, Kozubal; Palma, Jagiello, Lisman; Ishak