Genk v Westerlo

New leaders in the Pro League Racing Genk hosts one of this season's revelations, Westerlo. 

Genk took over the lead of the Pro League this weekend after Antwerp lost 3-0 at Standard. Genk went away with 3 points at OHL. They did owe this to a very strong goalkeeper Vandervoort. With some crucial saves and a penalty save he kept OHL from a deserved goal. Genk thus takes its fifth victory in a row. What is remarkable about that series of victories is that each time they won by one goal difference. The defense is solid, although against Westerlo they will have to play without Preciado. He received a red card just before halftime against OHL.  It remains to be seen how Genk will play now that they are in the lead for the first time. Will they play with the same discipline or will stress creep into the team? Someone who will be important in that is striker Onuachu. He has fully recovered from injury and has scored important goals in the past three games. With his strong body, he is important in holding the ball and bringing composure in possession.

Westerlo have also had a particularly nice sequence. It played a draw against Seraing (2-2) this weekend after winning the previous four games. Whether they can get into Playoff 1 as a newcomer like Union last season is the big question. Jonas De Roeck's team plays very liberated and attacking, with upcoming backs and lots of crosses. Against Genk's dangerous wingers, the backs cannot lose sight of their defensive tasks. That won't be easy, as both Reynolds and De Cuyper were actually schooled as wingers.

Westerlo have nothing to lose on the road to the leaders. They will continue their familiar way of playing; in other words, they will not entrench themselves in their own box. Westerlo scored at least two goals the past five games, and Genk also scored in their previous five games. Both teams also forced some luck in previous games due to their enthusiastic style of play. Both teams to score stands nicely rated at 1.60.