One day after the fireworks and silverware at the Golden Shoe Award show, it's time to roll up those sleeves again. And what a fixture awaits! Club will be hoping to secure its place in the Cup Final in May, defending a 2-1 from the first leg at KRC Genk. Find out all there is to know about tonight's clash here.
The Fixture
Three weeks after the first leg at Jan Breydel, Club is making its way to Waterschei in hopes of clearing that final hurdle towards the Croky Cup Final. The home game ended in a 2-1 for Club; after a clever cross by Steuckers, Arokodare took the visitors in the lead, but minutes later the score was in balance as Ordóñez headed it home from corner kick. In the second half, Club went over KRC Genk through a Tzolis spot kick.
With three goals so far, Tzolis tops the goal scorer's table at Club. The assist top spot is a bit more populated as five players have assisted twice so far: Bjorn Meijer, Andreas Skov Olsen, Christos Tzolis, Ardon Jashari and Hans Vanaken.
Freshy laureated, Golden Hans Vanaken might well be in his 40th Cup appearance for Club tonight. He'd better watch out, however, as he is in the danger zone: another booking would mean he misses out on the next Cup game.
The road to this encounter has seen four games so far, all won by Club.
- 6-1 against SV Belisia Bilzen
- 1-3 at K. Patro Eisden Maasmechelen
- 3-0 against OH Leuven
- 2-1 against KRC Genk in the first leg
A perfect Cup parcours has only happened on three occasions for Club: 1969-70, 1976-77 en 1995-96.
For the third time, the two teams will be meeting in the Belgian Cup. This is how it went on the past two occasions:
- Back in May 1998, the two teams met at the Cup Final at the Heysel Stadium. Club just came down from its 11th league win, with KRC Genk as runners-up, and was hoping on claiming that illustrious double. But it was Genk that pulled out all the works, sending off Club 4-0 after goals by Souleymane Oularé (2x), Thordur Gudjonsson and Jacky Peeters.
- In December 2021, a second meeting followed as the two battled it out in the Round of 16. Club scored early on through Éder Balanta, but Genk soon equalised through Kristian Thorstvedt. Joseph Paintsil then took Genk in the lead twice, but the score was overturned twice by Charles De Ketelaere. The score remained at 3-3 after prolongations, and Club proved master of its nerves in the penalty shootouts that followed.
With away goals no longer of any value, a defeat by a one goal margin means the game will proceed to prolongations and possibly penalty kicks.
Ever since the Cup has been revamped, Club has made it to the Semis on 23 occasions, making it to the Final 18 times (78,3%), and faultering at the final mometn on 5 occasions (21,7%).
Club has scored the most goals of the four teams remaining (14), followed by Antwerp (11), Anderlecht (10) and Genk (9).
For the third time this century, Club Brugge is in the top 2 in the home league, is still in the Semis of the Cup, and still has its place on the European stage:
- 2019-20: First in the league early February, lost the Cup Final, eliminated in the UCL group stages, but progressed to the UEL (eleminated in the Round of 32).
- 2014-15: First in the league early February, won the Cup Final, made it to the UEL Round of 8.
The winner of this tie makes it to Brussels, where either Antwerp or Anderlecht awaits (1st leg was 1-0 at Anderlecht).
The Opponent
Hosting tonight's game will be KRC Genk. The team has made it to this stage by going past the following teams:
- The team was set up with SK Beveren in the Round of 32. It was in the second half that Genk managed to decide the tie with goals by Hyeon-gyu Oh and Jarne Steuckers (0-2).
- An arduous Standard de Liège proved a fiery opponent in the Round of 16. Andi Zeqiri, Genk player out on loan, scored for les Rouches. Tolu Arokodare managed to draw level, but the game went into prolongations. Five minutes before the end, Patrik Hrošovský's goal helped Genk proceed (2-1).
- The game in the Round of 8 against fellow Limburg team STVV was less of a pickle. Two goals on the break by Hyeon-gyu Oh provided a cushion, and with Zakaria El Ouahdi and Noah Adedeji-Sternberg also making it to the back of the nets, an easy 0-4 win helped Genk to the Semis.
10 Semi Final qualifications for KRC Genk so far, with 6 qualifications (60%) and 4 eliminations (40%) at this stage. The last two times they made it to the Semis, they managed to soldier on (2021 vs RSC Anderlecht and 2018 vs KV Kortrijk), but on two earlier occasions they were ousted (2017 vs KV Oostende and 2016 vs Standard).
Five Belgian cup grace KRC Genk's List of Honours. The first was against Club Brugge (4-0) back in 1998. Thor Waterschei, one of the two teams making up KRC Genk at the moment of the fusion, also won the Cup twice (1980 and 1982).
Helped by two weaker results for Club, KRC Genk has broadened the gap with the runners up to six units. Coach Thorsten Fink's outfit is fired up to also make it to the end in the Croky Cup.
In contrast with the league, where Tolu Arokodare has made it to the score line 14 times so far, Hyeon-gyu Oh tops the table for Genk in the Cup competition. Hailing from Celtic FC, the South-Korean has three goals to his name. With three assists so far, Jarne Steuckers is leading that particular table.
Two players are in the yellow danger zone: Ibrahim Sory Bangoura and Ken Nkuba.
Milestones
- This could be the 40th Cup game for Hans Vanaken at Club Brugge.
- Michal Skoras could be manning the pitch for the 250th time in his career, having played 28 for Bruk-Bet Termalica Nieciesza, 17 for Raków Czestochowa, 131 for KKS Lech Poznan (all of them Polish) and 73 for Club Brugge.
The Man in Black
Appointed for tonight's game is Mr. Nicolas Laforge, backed by linesmen Mr. Quentin Blaise and Mr. Vito Di Vincenzo; fourth official will be Mr. Wim Smet. In charge of VAR is Mr. Nathan Verboomen, assisted by Mr. Mathias Hillaert and Mr. Jasper Vitse.
The game will be the 46th official game involving Club Brugge. A record Mr. Laforge shares with Mr. Visser. In 23 earlier away games led by Mr. Laforge, Club won 10, drew 6 and lost 7.
Earlier this season, Mr. Laforge also handled the whistle in the league game at Genk, but also at Westerlo and at home vs Gent.