With Genk and Club Brugge battling it out in the Semis, we are nearing the absolute apotheosis of this season's Croky Cup. Get in the know here, as we take a look at tomorrow's first leg.
The Man in Black
Mr. Lawrence Visser has been appointed as ref for the fixtured, backed by his linesmen Mr. Rien Vanyzere and Mr. Thibaud Nijssen, with Mr. Wim Smet as fourth official. Mr. Lothar D'Hondt will be in charge of VAR, backed by Mr. Romain Devillers.
For the 45th time in his career, Mr. Visser will have a game featuring Club, making him the only active ref with that many games, alongside Nicolas Laforge. In 17 earlier home games with Mr. Visser in charge, Club won 12, drew twice and conceded three defeats.
The game will be the 39th involving KRC Genk; the away record is 8W 6D 6L.
He handled the whistle in two earlier Club encounters this season (away at Standard (1-0) and Union (2-2)) and the Genk home game vs STVV (3-2).
The Fixture
It has been only one month since KRC Genk last paid Jan Breydel a visit to entertain Club Brugge. This time the first leg of the Croky Cup Semi Finals makes for a grand occasion.
The game will be the first of four consecutive home games; on the weekend, Club will be palying Beerschot before entertaining Juventus next week, and hosting the game against KV Kortrijk that weekend.
It's only the third time the two sides meet at the occasion of the Belgian Cup:
- In May of 1998 the two teams met in the final at the King Baudouin Stadium. Fresh into its league win, Club had set its sights on that illustrious double, but Genk proved too strong, goals scored by Souleymane Oularé (2x), Thordur Gudjonsson and Jacky Peeters to make it an emphatic 4-0 win for Genk.
- A second meeting came in December of 2021 in the Round of 16, game played at Genk. Club scored early on through Éder Balanta, but Genk put the score in balance through Kristian Thorstvedt. Joseph Paintsil then put Genk in front twice, but Charles De Ketelaere managed to chalk out that lead twice too. Prolongations saw no goals, so penalty shootouts decided on the tie, with Club drawing the longest straw.
Both Racing and Club are well on their way to make it to the Champions' Play-Offs, meaning the two outfits are set to meet six times this season.
So far this season, both teams won their home games:
- Club took a 0-2 lead at the Cegeka Arena back in August, 2 goals courtesy of Andreas Skov Olsen. The home team was not taken aback, and even went up and over Club through Jarne Steuckers (pen), Tolu Arokodare en Patrik Hrošovský (3-2).
- Back in December, Genk had a golden opportunity to take the lead from the spot, but Mignolet proved the better of Tolu's penalty kick. In the end, Club claimed the full loot after goals by Brandon Mechele and Andreas Skov Olsen (2-0).
Club has made it to 23 Cup Semis ever since the reforming of the Cup. On 18 occasions (78.3%) Club managed to go through, and in five seasons Club went down just before making it to Brussels (21.7%). Club still holds the record of most Cups won.
It has been 10 years since Club last lifted the trophy, and it wants to get back to those Cup winning ways. The last two times in the Semis, Club was unable to make it to the Final(2024 vs Union and 2022 vs Gent).
For the third time, Club will be taking on a team from Limburg:
- Round of 32 - Belisia Bilzen paid a visit to Jan Breydel, conceding three goals in the first half hour through Ferran Jutglà (2x) and Zaid Romero. Sam Valcke scored a thrilling goal for Belisia, but after the break Gustaf Nilsson, Bjorn Meijer and Michal Skoras made it 6-1 on the night.
- Round of 16 - next up was Patro Eisden Maasmechelen. Club took an early lead through Nielsen, but Van Eeenoo soon made it 1-1. After the break, Hans Vanaken and Ardon Jashari secured the 1-3 win.
- Round of 8 - the last hurdle towards the Semis was Oud-Heverlee Leuven, eliminated just one week ago. Christos Tzolis scored Club's first two goals of 2025, and Michal Skoras's penalty kick made it a clear 3-0 win.
Three games in, Club has three top scorers: Ferran Jutglà, Michal Skoras and Christos Tzolis all scored two so far. From the four remaining teams, Club has been the most industrious with 12 goals, followed by Antwerp (11), Anderlecht (9) and Genk (8).
Four have assisted two so far for Club: Ardon Jashari, Bjorn Meijer, Andreas Skov Olsen and Hans Vanaken. Manning goal has been Nordin Jackers on all three occasions; he might be playing another one of his former teams with KRC Genk, having played OH Leuven earlier on.
The second leg will be in 3 weeks. The winner makes it to the Final in Brussels, where Antwerp or Anderlecht awaits.
Club is on a great run, unbowed for 16 games on a spin.
The Opponent
KRC Genk has gone past the following teams so far:
- Round of 32 - a trip to SK Beverenresulted in a 0-2 win after goals by Hyeon-gyu Oh and Jarne Steuckers.
- Round of 16 - Standard gave KRC Genk a hard time, taking the lead through Andi Zeqiri. Tolu Arokodare equalised, and in prolongations Patrik Hrošovský managed to seal the deal for Genk (2-1).
- Round of 8 - just last week, Genk went past its neighbours STVV. Hyeon-gyu Oh with two goals, and Zakaria El Ouahdi and Noah Adedeji-Sternberg produced an easy 0-4 win.
The team has made it to the Semis 10 times so far. 6 times (60%) Genk soldiered on, and 4 times (40%) the adventure ended in the Semis. The last two times the team made it to the Semis proved successful (2021 vs RSC Anderlecht and 2018 vs KV Kortrijk); two previous tries ended in the Semis (2017 vs KV Oostende and 2016 vs Standard) lukte dat niet.
For the first time in four years, coach Thorsten Fink's outfit has made it to the Semis. KRC Genk has five Cup wins to its name so far. Their very first was in 1998 against Club Brugge (4-0). Thor Waterschei, one of the two teams this fusion team was made up from, won the Cup twice (1980 and 1982).
Where Tolu Arokodare's 13 goals earn him the top scorer's title, it is Hyeon-gyu Oh who does best in the Cup. The South Korean striker, heiling from Celtic FC, has scored three so far in the Cup. Jarne Steuckers has the most assists to his name (2).
Milestones
- Andreas Skov Olsen could be in his 125th game at Club.
- Hugo Siquet is up for a tenth appearance.
- It might be the tenth Cup game for both Bjorn Meijer and Casper Nielsen wearing the Club Brugge jersey.
- Maxim De Cuyper could also be in the Cup for a tenth time, but four of those were at KVC Westerlo.