2018–19 KRC Genk season

The 2018–19 K.R.C. Genk season was the club's 31st season in existence and the 24th consecutive season in the top flight of Belgian football. In addition to the domestic league, Genk participated in this season's edition of the Belgian Cup and the UEFA Europa League. The season covered the period from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019.

Genk

2018–19 season
Chairman	Peter Croonen
Head coach	Philippe Clement
Stadium	Luminus Arena
Belgian First Division A	1st (champions)
Belgian Cup	Quarter-finals
UEFA Europa League	Round of 32
Top goalscorer	League: Mbwana Samatta (23) All: Mbwana Samatta (32)
Home colours Away colours Third colours
← 2017–18 2019–20 →

Players

First-team squad

As of 31 January 2019^[1]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  AUS Danny Vukovic 2 DF  BEL Casper de Norre 4 MF  BEL Dries Wouters 5 DF  BRA Neto Borges 6 DF  BEL Sébastien Dewaest 7 MF  JPN Junya Ito (on loan from Kashiwa Reysol) 9 FW  DEN Marcus Ingvartsen 10 FW  TAN Mbwana Samatta 11 MF  GHA Joseph Paintsil 14 MF  BEL Leandro Trossard (captain) 18 MF  UKR Ruslan Malinovskyi 19 MF  POL Jakub Piotrowski 20 MF  CRO Ivan Fiolić

No. Pos. Nation Player 21 DF  FIN Jere Uronen 23 DF  BEL Rubin Seigers 25 MF  NOR Sander Berge 26 GK  BEL Maarten Vandevoordt 28 MF  BEL Bryan Heynen 30 GK  BEL Nordin Jackers 31 DF  DEN Joakim Mæhle 33 DF  COL Jhon Lucumí 45 DF  GHA Joseph Aidoo 54 MF  ROU Vladimir Screciu 77 MF  COD Dieumerci Ndongala 93 FW  BEL Zinho Gano — MF  CIV Pierre Zebli

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 3 DF  BIH Bojan Nastić (at Oostende until 30 June 2019) 8 MF  KOS Edon Zhegrova (at Basel until 30 June 2020) 15 MF  SEN Ibrahima Seck (at Zulte Waregem until 30 June 2019) 16 MF  BEL Dante Vanzeir (at Beerschot Wilrijk until 30 June 2019) 29 MF  BEL Manuel Benson (at Mouscron until 30 June 2019)

No. Pos. Nation Player 40 GK  BEL Gaëtan Coucke (at Lommel until 30 June 2019) — DF  MAR Amine Khammas (at Den Bosch until 30 June 2019) — DF  CZE Jakub Brabec (at Viktoria Plzeň until 30 June 2019) — FW  GRE Nikos Karelis (at PAOK until 30 June 2019)

Competitions

Overview

Competition	First match	Last match	Starting round	Final position	Record
					Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Belgian First Division A	29 July 2018	19 May 2019	Matchday 1	Winners	40	24	11	5	72	39	+33	060.00
Belgian Cup	26 September 2018	19 December 2018	Sixth round	Quarter-finals	3	2	1	0	9	3	+6	066.67
UEFA Europa League	26 July 2018	21 February 2019	Second qualifying round	Round of 32	14	9	3	2	37	18	+19	064.29
Total					57	35	15	7	118	60	+58	061.40

Source: Soccerway

Belgian First Division A

Main article: 2018–19 Belgian First Division A

Regular season

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Genk	30	18	9	3	63	31	+32	63	Qualification for the championship play-offs
2	Club Brugge	30	16	8	6	64	32	+32	56
3	Standard Liège	30	15	8	7	49	35	+14	53
4	Anderlecht	30	15	6	9	49	34	+15	51
5	Gent	30	15	5	10	53	45	+8	50

Source: Belgian First Division A (in Dutch), Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Matches won; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away goals scored; 6) Away matches won; 7) Play-off.^[2]

Results summary

Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
30	18	9	3	63	31	+32	63	9	4	2	26	12	+14	9	5	1	37	19	+18

Source: Jupiler Pro League

Results by round

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
Ground	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A
Result	W	D	W	W	W	D	W	W	W	W	W	D	W	D	D	L	W	D	W	W	W	W	L	W	W	L	D	D	W	D
Position	1	3	3	2	1	2	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	1

Source: Jupiler Pro League
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

The league fixtures were announced on 12 June 2018.^[3]

Lokeren v Genk

29 July 2018 1	Lokeren	0–4	Genk	Lokeren
20:00 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Daknamstadion

Genk v Sint-Truiden

5 August 2018 2	Genk	1–1	Sint-Truiden	Genk
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Luminus Arena

Oostende v Genk

12 August 2018 3	Oostende	0–2	Genk	Ostend
14:30 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Versluys Arena

Genk v Charleroi

19 August 2018 4	Genk	3–1	Charleroi	Genk
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Luminus Arena

Genk v Waasland-Beveren

26 August 2018 5	Genk	3–2	Waasland-Beveren	Genk
20:00 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Luminus Arena

Kortrijk v Genk

2 September 2018 6	Kortrijk	3–3	Genk	Kortrijk
20:00 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Guldensporen Stadion

Genk v Anderlecht

15 September 2018 7	Genk	1–0	Anderlecht	Genk
20:30 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Luminus Arena

Cercle Brugge v Genk

23 September 2018 8	Cercle Brugge	2–5	Genk	Bruges
20:00 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Jan Breydel Stadium

Genk v Zulte Waregem

29 September 2018 9	Genk	4–0	Zulte Waregem	Genk
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Luminus Arena

Gent v Genk

7 October 2018 10	Gent	1–5	Genk	Ghent
20:00 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Ghelamco Arena

Genk v Eupen

20 October 2018 11	Genk	2–1	Eupen	Genk
20:30 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Luminus Arena

Standard Liège v Genk

28 October 2018 12	Standard Liège	1–1	Genk	Liège
15:30 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Stade Maurice Dufrasne

Antwerp v Genk

31 October 2018 13	Antwerp	2–4	Genk	Antwerp
21:30 CET (UTC+1)				Stadium: Bosuilstadion

Genk v Club Brugge

3 November 2018 14	Genk	1–1	Club Brugge	Genk
19:00 CET (UTC+1)				Stadium: Luminus Arena

Excel Mouscron v Genk

11 November 2018 15	Excel Mouscron	0–0	Genk	Mouscron
21:00 CET (UTC+1)				Stadium: Stade Le Canonnier

Genk v Cercle Brugge

24 November 2018 16	Genk	1–2	Cercle Brugge	Genk
21:30 CET (UTC+1)				Stadium: Luminus Arena

Anderlecht v Genk

2 December 2018 17	Anderlecht	0–1	Genk	Anderlecht
19:00 CET (UTC+1)				Stadium: Constant Vanden Stock Stadium

Genk v Kortrijk

8 December 2018 18	Genk	1–1	Kortrijk	Genk
19:00 CET (UTC+1)				Stadium: Luminus Arena

Genk v Oostende

16 December 2018 19	Genk	2–0	Oostende	Genk
19:00 CET (UTC+1)				Stadium: Luminus Arena

Eupen v Genk

23 December 2018 20	Eupen	0–2	Genk	Eupen
19:00 CET (UTC+1)				Stadium: Kehrweg Stadion

Genk v Gent

26 December 2018 21	Genk	3–1	Gent	Genk
21:30 CET (UTC+1)				Stadium: Luminus Arena

Sint-Truiden v Genk

18 January 2019 22	Sint-Truiden	2–3	Genk	Sint-Truiden
21:35 CET (UTC+1)				Stadium: Stayen

Genk v Excel Mouscron

26 January 2019 23	Genk	1–2	Excel Mouscron	Genk
21:30 CET (UTC+1)				Stadium: Luminus Arena

Waasland-Beveren v Genk

2 February 2019 24	Waasland-Beveren	1–2	Genk	Beveren
21:30 CET (UTC+1)				Stadium: Freethiel Stadion

Genk v Standard Liège

8 February 2019 25	Genk	2–0	Standard Liège	Genk
21:30 CET (UTC+1)				Stadium: Luminus Arena

Club Brugge v Genk

17 February 2019 26	Club Brugge	3–1	Genk	Bruges
15:30 CET (UTC+1)				Stadium: Jan Breydel Stadium

Genk v Antwerp

24 February 2019 27	Genk	0–0	Antwerp	Genk
21:30 CET (UTC+1)				Stadium: Luminus Arena

Charleroi v Genk

2 March 2019 28	Charleroi	1–1	Genk	Charleroi
19:00 CET (UTC+1)				Stadium: Stade du Pays de Charleroi

Genk v Lokeren

10 March 2019 29	Genk	1–0	Lokeren	Genk
19:00 CET (UTC+1)				Stadium: Luminus Arena

Zulte Waregem v Genk

17 March 2019 30	Zulte Waregem	3–3	Genk	Waregem
19:00 CET (UTC+1)				Stadium: Regenboogstadion

Championship play-offs

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Genk (C)	10	6	2	2	19	8	+11	52	Qualification for the Champions League group stage
2	Club Brugge	10	7	1	2	19	11	+8	50	Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round
3	Standard Liège	10	4	1	5	17	16	+1	40	Qualification for the Europa League group stage
4	Antwerp (O)	10	4	2	4	12	16	−4	39	Qualification for the Europa League play-off Final
5	Gent	10	3	1	6	10	15	−5	35	Qualification for the Europa League second qualifying round
6	Anderlecht	10	1	3	6	8	19	−11	32

Source: Sport.be
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points without (possible) half points added due to rounding; 3) Position obtained during the Regular season^[4]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners

Results summary

Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
10	6	2	2	19	8	+11	20	4	1	0	12	2	+10	2	1	2	7	6	+1

Source: Jupiler Pro League

Results by round

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Ground	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	A	H
Result	W	L	W	W	W	W	W	L	D	D
Position	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1

Source: Jupiler Pro League
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

Genk v Anderlecht

30 March 2019 1	Genk	3–0	Anderlecht	Genk
21:30 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Luminus Arena

Antwerp v Genk

2 April 2019 2	Antwerp	1–0	Genk	Antwerp
20:30 CET (UTC+1)				Stadium: Bosuilstadion

Genk v Gent

6 April 2019 3	Genk	2–1	Gent	Genk
20:30 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Luminus Arena

Genk v Club Brugge

14 April 2019 4	Genk	3–1	Club Brugge	Genk
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Luminus Arena

Standard Liège v Genk

19 April 2019 5	Standard Liège	1–3	Genk	Liège
20:30 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Stade Maurice Dufrasne

Gent v Genk

27 April 2019 6	Gent	0–1	Genk	Ghent
20:30 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Ghelamco Arena

Genk v Antwerp

3 May 2019 7	Genk	4–0	Antwerp	Genk
20:30 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Luminus Arena

Club Brugge v Genk

12 May 2019 8	Club Brugge	3–2	Genk	Bruges
18:00 CET (UTC+1)				Stadium: Jan Breydel Stadium

Anderlecht v Genk

16 May 2019 9	Anderlecht	1–1	Genk	Anderlecht
20:30 CET (UTC+1)				Stadium: Constant Vanden Stock Stadium

Genk v Standard Liège

19 May 2019 10	Genk	0–0	Standard Liège	Genk
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Luminus Arena

Belgian Cup

Main article: 2018–19 Belgian Cup

Genk v Lommel

26 September 2018 Sixth round	Genk	4–0	Lommel	Genk
20:00 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Luminus Arena

Charleroi v Genk

5 December 2018 Seventh round	Charleroi	1–3	Genk	Charleroi
20:45 CET (UTC+1)	Gholizadeh 35'		Dewaest 54' Mæhle 76' Gano 90+3'	Stadium: Stade du Pays de Charleroi

Union SG v Genk

19 December 2018 Quarter-finals	Union SG	2–2 (a.e.t.) (4–3 p)	Genk	Forest
20:45 CET (UTC+1)	Tau 18' Ferber 71'		Gano 48', 76'	Stadium: Stade Joseph Marien Attendance: 6,217 Referee: Erik Lambrechts

UEFA Europa League

Main article: 2018–19 UEFA Europa League

Second qualifying round

Genk v Fola Esch

26 July 2018 First leg	Genk	5–0	Fola Esch	Genk, Belgium
20:00 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Luminus Arena

Fola Esch v Genk

1 August 2018 Second leg	Fola Esch	1–4 (1–9 agg.)	Genk	Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Stade Émile Mayrisch

Third qualifying round

Genk v Lech Poznań

9 August 2018 First leg	Genk	2–0	Lech Poznań	Genk, Belgium
20:00 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Luminus Arena

Lech Poznań v Genk

16 August 2018 Second leg	Lech Poznań	1–2 (1–4 agg.)	Genk	Poznań, Poland
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Stadion Miejski

Third qualifying round

Genk v Brøndby

23 August 2018 First leg	Genk	5–2	Brøndby	Genk, Belgium
20:30 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Luminus Arena

Brøndby v Genk

30 August 2018 Second leg	Brøndby	2–4 (4–9 agg.)	Genk	Brøndbyvester, Denmark
20:30 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Brøndby Stadium

Group stage

Main article: 2018–19 UEFA Europa League group stage § Group I

The draw for the group stage was held on 31 August 2018.^[5]

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		GNK	MAL	BES	SRP
1	Genk	6	3	2	1	14	8	+6	11	Advance to knockout phase		—	2–0	1–1	4–0
2	Malmö FF	6	2	3	1	7	6	+1	9			2–2	—	2–0	1–1
3	Beşiktaş	6	2	1	3	9	11	−2	7			2–4	0–1	—	3–1
4	Sarpsborg 08	6	1	2	3	8	13	−5	5			3–1	1–1	2–3	—

Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers

Genk v Malmö FF

20 September 2018 (2018-09-20) 1	Genk	2–0	Malmö FF	Genk, Belgium
18:55	Trossard 37' Samatta 71'	Report		Stadium: Luminus Arena Attendance: 11,590 Referee: Aleksei Eskov (Russia)

Sarpsborg 08 v Genk

4 October 2018 (2018-10-04) 2	Sarpsborg 08	3–1	Genk	Sarpsborg, Norway
21:00	Mortensen 6', 63' Zachariassen 54'	Report	Trossard 49'	Stadium: Sarpsborg Stadion Attendance: 7,885 Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia)

Beşiktaş v Genk

25 October 2018 (2018-10-25) 3	Beşiktaş	2–4	Genk	Istanbul, Turkey
21:00 (22:00 TRT)	Vágner Love 74', 86'	Report	Samatta 23', 70' Ndongala 81' Piotrowski 83'	Stadium: Vodafone Park Attendance: 25,209 Referee: Daniel Stefański (Poland)

Genk v Beşiktaş

8 November 2018 (2018-11-08) 4	Genk	1–1	Beşiktaş	Genk, Belgium
18:55	Berge 87'	Report	Quaresma 16'	Stadium: Luminus Arena Attendance: 14,292 Referee: Tobias Stieler (Germany)

Malmö FF v Genk

29 November 2018 (2018-11-29) 5	Malmö FF	2–2	Genk	Malmö, Sweden
21:00	Lewicki 65' Antonsson 67'	Report	Pozuelo 42' Paintsil 53'	Stadium: Stadion Attendance: 16,117 Referee: Srđan Jovanović (Serbia)

Genk v Sarpsborg 08

13 December 2018 (2018-12-13) 6	Genk	4–0	Sarpsborg 08	Genk, Belgium
18:55	Gano 3' Paintsil 5' Berge 64' Aidoo 67'	Report		Stadium: Luminus Arena Attendance: 12,240 Referee: István Kovács (Romania)

Knockout phase

Main article: 2018–19 UEFA Europa League knockout phase

Round of 32

The draw for the round of 32 was held on 17 December 2018.^[6]

Slavia Prague v Genk

14 February 2019 First leg	Slavia Prague	0–0	Genk	Prague, Czech Republic
18:55		Report		Stadium: Sinobo Stadium Attendance: 18,125 Referee: Andris Treimanis (Latvia)

Genk v Slavia Prague

21 February 2019 Second leg	Genk	1–4 (1–4 agg.)	Slavia Prague	Genk, Belgium
21:00	Trossard 10'	Report	Coufal 23' Traoré 54' Škoda 64', 69'	Stadium: Luminus Arena Attendance: 13,688 Referee: Bobby Madden (Scotland)