Leuven demonstrated commendable home form towards the end of last season, securing three victories in their final four matches, and continued to impress in their recent encounter against Beerschot. Conversely, Genk’s performance in away fixtures was less convincing, with a solitary win in their last 11 league games of the 2023-24 season.
Mathieu Maertens has shown promising goal-scoring capabilities in the pre-season and was notably active in Leuven’s stalemate with Beerschot. Genk’s away challenges may persist in Leuven.
Leuven appears poised to surprise their guests, a Genk team that ended the previous season on a low note and has yet to find form early in this campaign. Despite a lacklustre 0-0 draw against the newly-promoted Beerschot, Oscar Garcia’s team exhibited superiority, particularly in their home performances.
Genk, under the guidance of Thorsten Fink, also began their season with a goalless draw, facing Standard Liege with the season’s youngest squad, indicating potential but perhaps insufficient maturity for immediate success.
Mathieu Maertens: Decisive Influence
While Genk may develop strength as the season progresses, their recent away form suggests immediate improvement is unlikely. They concluded the previous season with a string of losses, and the pattern may continue.
Leuven’s Mathieu Maertens, a crucial figure in their attacking endeavours and recent goal-scoring form, could be pivotal in a closely contested match.
Betting tips – Leuven and the draw double chance at 4/5
