Preview: Genk vs Royal Antwerp - prediction, team news, lineups

Both searching for their first wins of the 2025-26 campaign, Genk and Royal Antwerp clash at Cegeka Arena in the Belgian Pro League on Sunday afternoon.

De Smurfen lost at the base of Club Brugge on the opening weekend of the season, whilst the Great Old shared the spoils with Union SG.

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Match preview

Finishing third in the Belgian Pro League during the most recent 2024-25 campaign, Genk are on a mission to compete with the likes of Union SG and Club Brugge at the very summit of the top-flight standings during the highly-anticipated 2025-26 term.

De Smurfen commenced their competitive schedule with a daunting trip to the aforementioned Club Brugge last Sunday afternoon, when a goal from Oh Hyun-gyu in the opening stages was cancelled out by strikes from Joel Ordonez and Brandon Mechele in the second half.

After losing their opening match of the 2025-26 season, Sunday's hosts are currently occupying 13th spot in the Belgian Pro League standings, with only Gent, RAAL La Louviere and Westerlo below them at this stage.

Netting a remarkable tally of 21 goals across a total of 40 top-flight appearances last season, Toluwalase Arokodare is set to be a shining light in attack for De Smurfen once again this campaign, although he failed to find the net last weekend at Club Brugge.

Placing fifth in the Pro League last term, Royal Antwerp are looking to chase down the likes of Genk at the very summit of the table, with Sunday's visitors to Cegeka Arena enjoying a productive match on the opening weekend of the term last time out.

Current champions Union SG were the visitors to Bosuilstadion and found themselves behind in the first half, before a second-period strike from substitute winger Raul Florucz levelled the scores and led to a share of the spoils between the two sides.

Breaching the net of the champions last time out, veteran attacker Vincent Janssen has already started to fill the shoes of last season's leading marksman Tjaronn Chery, who secured a move to Eredivisie outfit NEC Nijmegen over the summer.

The Great Old will be looking to continue their excellent away form over from the previous season, with Sunday's visitors to Cegeka Arena unbeaten across their last four outings in competitive matches, a run which includes successes at Genk and Gent.

Genk Belgian Pro League form: L

Royal Antwerp Belgian Pro League form: D

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Team News

Genk remain without the services of striker Andi Zeqiri, who picked up an ankle injury in April and is yet to recover from the problem.

Impressing off the bench last weekend at Club Brugge, talisman Arokodare could be handed his first Pro League start of the term.

Royal Antwerp have a number of fitness problems to contend with at the start of this season, with the likes of Anthony Valencia (knee) sidelined.

A former Aston Villa man, defender Bjorn Engels is currently in the medical room for the Great Old owing to a hamstring injury.

Genk possible starting lineup:

Van Crombrugge; El Ouahdi, Sadick, Smets, Ditu; Steuckers, Sattlberger, Karetsas, Heyen, Arokodare; Oh

Royal Antwerp possible starting lineup:

Lammens; Verstraeten, Bozhinov, Van den Bosch, Foulon; Praet, Doumbia, Kerk, Somers, Balikwisha; Janssen

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We say: Genk 1-1 Royal Antwerp

 

With an excellent home record last term, Genk will be confident of continuing that trend as Royal Antwerp come to town this weekend.

However, the visitors will be in high spirits after holding the champions last time out and should be good enough for another draw in this one.

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

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