Genk and Shakhtar Donetsk will lock horns at the Luminus Arena in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League third-round qualifying tie, which will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
Genk will be aiming to reach the Champions League group stage for the second time in three years, desperately looking to improve a poor impression they left last time out (GP6 – D1, L5; GD: -15). Though their 2021/22 Champions League journey begins in this round, the Belgian giants can find inspiration in negotiating their last five qualifying campaigns across major European competitions. Yet, they head into this clash on the back of an underwhelming 4-3 home defeat to domestic rivals Oostende, which marked the first time they failed to start the new league season with a win since 2017/18. Against this backdrop, John van den Brom’s men have been relentless in the front third lately, notably finding the net in 23 consecutive games in all competitions.
On the other hand, Shakhtar’s new competitive season got off to a flying start, with the Ukrainian powerhouse winning their opening two league matches via an aggregate score of 5-1. Additionally, the 2020/21 Ukrainian Premier League runners-up boast a 100% European record versus Belgian opposition over the past decade (W4), netting an intimidating average of 3.5 goals per win in the process. What’s more, the ‘Hirnyky’ have suffered just one defeat across their last six away matches in the Champions League proper (W2, D3) despite getting off the mark first only twice in that sequence (W1, D1). Taking the 2020/21 season into account, Roberto De Zerbi’s men have won their last five competitive fixtures by an aggregate scoreline of 12-2, with their most impressive 4-0 triumph in that period coming away from home.
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