Title battle will be an unseen thriller with Racing Genk: Limburgers third candidate after victory over Club Brugge | Jupiler Pro League 2022/2023

Genk was not allowed to encounter too many problems against half an emergency team of Club Brugge, where many attacking players were not available. Also because there was nothing more at stake for the home team apart from the honour. It was therefore surprising that the first big chance was for Club. Vandevoordt tapped Vermant’s effort against the crossbar with a great reflex.

It didn’t take long before Genk reacted appropriately. Tolu headed the ball high into the air, Paintsil rammed it hard into goal without hesitation. The Bruges fans, who especially begrudged Antwerp the title, cheered almost as loudly as the Genk supporters. They almost immediately had more to celebrate. Mignolet kept Paintsil very strong from the 0-2.

With that, Racing Genk had shot its best powder. Club Brugge quietly took over the match with attempts by Nusa and Meijer. A little later, a cross from the latter stuck in the small rectangle and Arteaga had to turn the shot of Zipper off the line. Genk reached the break without damage, also because Vermant sloppily typed a two-on-one.

The second half did not bring any improvement for the Limburgers, who were playing football remarkably. They seemed a little paralyzed by the pressure. The chances remained that way for Club. After a wide-ranging attack, Buchanan narrowly missed the best opportunity.

It was not until El Khannouss came in that Genk regained some fire. The Moroccan immediately startled Mignolet with an icicle from a sharp angle. Just then came the equalizer. The inevitable Vanaken nodded in a corner and virtually pushed Genk out of the title fight. When Heynen had to stop crying, the sky looked even darker for the visitors.

It was Hrosovsky who made the sun shine again. On willpower and in two times he made it 1-2, and a few minutes later Paintsil removed the last doubt. In the very last minute, Rits’ 2-3 was rejected for offside, but none of that mattered anymore.

Racing Genk kept its chances for the title intact and can fight for the championship together with Antwerp and Union on the last day of play. That will undoubtedly be fun!