Genk vs SC Freiburg Highlights and Goals

UEFA Europa League

8:00 PMMarch 12, 2026

Round of 16

Genk*

Show Score

1 - 0

HT:(1 - 0)

SC Freiburg

Cegeka Arena

Referee: Chris Kavanagh, England

How did the teams perform?

Genk

World Class 0 Solid 0 Bang Average 0 Lucky 0 Shocking 0

0 Total Votes

SC Freiburg

World Class 0 Solid 0 Bang Average 0 Lucky 0 Shocking 0

Match Stats Lineups Head-2-Head Standings

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Match Stats

Ball possession

50%

50%

0.85

Expected goals (xG)

0.28

0.00

Goals Prevented

0.00

Attack

17

Total shots

5

3

Shots on target

2

8

Shots off target

1

6

Blocked shots

3

8

Shots inside box

4

9

Shots outside box

1

5

Corner kicks

7

2

Offsides

2

Passing

396

Total passes

398

327 (83%)

Accurate passes

323 (81%)

Discipline

16

Fouls

9

1

Yellow cards

1

0

Red cards

0

2

Goalkeeper saves

2

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Lineup

Genk

4-1-4-1

26 G Tobias Okiki Lawal 7.3

18 D Joris Kayembe 7.2

6 D Matte Smets 7.2

44 D Josue Ndenge Kongolo 6.9

77 D Zakaria El Ouahdi 24' 74' 8.3

21 M Ibrahima Sory Bangoura 6.9

32 M Noah Adedeji-Sternberg 6.7

38 M Daan Heymans 7.7

8 M Bryan Heynen (C) 24' 7.3

20 M Konstantinos Karetsas 7.0

23 F Aaron Bibout 5.9

Substitutes

99 F Jusef Erabi

30 F Ayumu Yokoyama

27 D Ken Nkuba

24 M Nikolas Sattlberger

10 F Junya Ito

7 F Jarne Steuckers

34 D Adrian Palacios

1 G Hendrik Van Crombrugge

29 F Robin Mirisola 83' Replaced by A. Bibout 6.7

14 F Yira Collins Sor 77' Replaced by N. Adedeji-Sternberg 6.5

19 D Yaimar Medina 77' Replaced by J. Kayembe 6.7

3 D Mujaid Sadick 77' Replaced by J. Kongolo 6.6

Coach

Nicky Hayen

SC Freiburg

4-2-3-1

1 G Noah Atubolu 7.2

30 D Christian Günter (C) 7.0

43 D Bruno Ogbus 80' Holding 7.3

28 D Matthias Ginter 7.3

29 D Philipp Treu 6.5

44 M Johan Manzambi 8.2

6 M Patrick Osterhage 6.9

32 M Vincenzo Grifo 6.7

14 M Yuito Suzuki 6.2

19 M Jan-Niklas Beste 6.7

31 F Igor Matanović 6.9

Substitutes

69 M Rouven Tarnutzer

27 M Nicolas Höfler

17 D Lukas Kübler

65 D Karl Steinmann

33 D Jordy Makengo

5 D Anthony Jung

3 D Philipp Lienhart

24 G Jannik Huth

21 G Florian Müller

9 F Lucas Höler 71' Replaced by Y. Suzuki 6.3

7 F Derry Scherhant 63' Replaced by V. Grifo 6.7

22 F Cyriaque Irié 63' Replaced by J. Beste 6.3

Coach

Julian Schuster

UEFA Europa League Standings - UEFA Europa League

Pos	Team	MP	W	D	L	+/-	GD	Pts	Form
1	Dinamo Zagreb	2	2	0	0	6-2	4	6	W No match found W 22 January: Dinamo Zagreb 4 - 1 FCSB
2	FC Midtjylland	2	2	0	0	5-2	3	6	W No match found W 11 December: FC Midtjylland 1 - 0 Genk
3	Aston Villa	2	2	0	0	3-0	3	6	W 27 November: Aston Villa 2 - 1 BSC Young Boys W 11 December: FC Basel 1893 1 - 2 Aston Villa
4	SC Braga	2	2	0	0	3-0	3	6	W No match found W 11 December: Nice 0 - 1 SC Braga
5	Lyon	2	2	0	0	3-0	3	6	W 27 November: Maccabi Tel Aviv 0 - 6 Lyon W 11 December: Lyon 2 - 1 GO Ahead Eagles
6	Lille	2	2	0	0	3-1	2	6	W No match found W 29 January: Lille 1 - 0 SC Freiburg
7	FC Porto	2	2	0	0	3-1	2	6	W 27 November: FC Porto 3 - 0 Nice W 11 December: FC Porto 2 - 1 Malmo FF
8	Plzen	2	1	1	0	4-1	3	4	D 11 December: Panathinaikos 0 - 0 Plzen W No match found
9	Real Betis	2	1	1	0	4-2	2	4	D No match found W 11 December: Dinamo Zagreb 1 - 3 Real Betis
10	SC Freiburg	2	1	1	0	3-2	1	4	W No match found D No match found
11	Ferencvarosi TC	2	1	1	0	2-1	1	4	D 22 January: Ferencvarosi TC 1 - 1 Panathinaikos W No match found
12	Panathinaikos	2	1	0	1	5-3	2	3	W No match found L No match found
13	Celta Vigo	2	1	0	1	4-3	1	3	L No match found W No match found
14	FC Basel 1893	2	1	0	1	3-2	1	3	L No match found W No match found
15	AS Roma	2	1	0	1	2-2	0	3	W 27 November: AS Roma 2 - 1 FC Midtjylland L No match found
16	GO Ahead Eagles	2	1	0	1	2-2	0	3	L 06 November: Red Bull Salzburg 2 - 0 GO Ahead Eagles W No match found
17	Brann	2	1	0	1	2-2	0	3	L 11 December: Brann 0 - 4 Fenerbahçe W No match found
18	Genk	2	1	0	1	1-1	0	3	W 22 January: Utrecht 0 - 2 Genk L No match found
19	BSC Young Boys	2	1	0	1	3-4	-1	3	L 06 November: PAOK 4 - 0 BSC Young Boys W No match found
20	Fenerbahce	2	1	0	1	3-4	-1	3	L No match found W 22 January: Fenerbahçe 0 - 1 Aston Villa
21	Ludogorets	2	1	0	1	2-3	-1	3	W No match found L 22 January: Rangers 1 - 0 Ludogorets
22	Sturm Graz	2	1	0	1	2-3	-1	3	L No match found W No match found
23	VfB Stuttgart	2	1	0	1	2-3	-1	3	W No match found L No match found
24	FCSB	2	1	0	1	1-2	-1	3	W No match found L 27 November: FK Crvena Zvezda 1 - 0 FCSB
25	Nottingham Forest	2	0	1	1	4-5	-1	1	D No match found L No match found
26	FK Crvena Zvezda	2	0	1	1	2-3	-1	1	D No match found L No match found
27	Bologna	2	0	1	1	1-2	-1	1	L No match found D No match found
28	PAOK	2	0	1	1	1-3	-2	1	D 11 December: Ludogorets 3 - 3 PAOK L No match found
29	Celtic	2	0	1	1	1-3	-2	1	D No match found L No match found
30	Maccabi Tel Aviv	2	0	1	1	1-3	-2	1	D No match found L 27 November: Maccabi Tel Aviv 0 - 6 Lyon
31	Nice	2	0	0	2	2-4	-2	0	L 06 November: Nice 1 - 3 SC Freiburg L 27 November: FC Porto 3 - 0 Nice
32	Rangers	2	0	0	2	1-3	-2	0	L 06 November: Rangers 0 - 2 AS Roma L No match found
33	Utrecht	2	0	0	2	0-2	-2	0	L No match found L 27 November: Real Betis 2 - 1 Utrecht
34	Red Bull Salzburg	2	0	0	2	0-3	-3	0	L No match found L 27 November: Bologna 4 - 1 Red Bull Salzburg
35	Feyenoord	2	0	0	2	0-3	-3	0	L 06 November: VfB Stuttgart 2 - 0 Feyenoord L 27 November: Feyenoord 1 - 3 Celtic
36	Malmo FF	2	0	0	2	1-5	-4	0	L 06 November: Malmo FF 0 - 1 Panathinaikos L 27 November: Nottingham Forest 3 - 0 Malmo FF

Qualification/Relegation

• Promotion - Europa League (Play Offs: 1/8-finals)
• Promotion - Europa League (Play Offs: 1/16-finals)

Genk secured a vital 1-0 upset victory over SC Freiburg, with Zakaria El Ouahdi’s first-half goal proving the difference in a captivating UEFA Europa League clash.

Genk secured a vital 1-0 victory over SC Freiburg in their UEFA Europa League encounter at the Cegeka Arena. Zakaria El Ouahdi emerged as the hero, scoring the solitary goal that sealed three crucial points for the home side.

Coming into the fixture, Freiburg held a slight advantage in their group, sitting 10th with four points from two games. Genk, in contrast, were 18th with three points, needing a home win to boost their European hopes. This match was crucial for both teams’ aspirations in the competition.

The match began with early drama. In the 8th minute, Freiburg thought they had taken the lead when Johan Manzambi found the back of the net. However, VAR intervention swiftly ruled out the goal for offside, denying the visitors an early advantage.

Genk quickly regrouped and began to assert themselves. They pressed Freiburg’s defence with increasing intent, looking to create openings. The home crowd responded, urging their team forward.

The breakthrough for Genk arrived in the 24th minute. Bryan Heynen delivered a precise assist, finding Zakaria El Ouahdi, who confidently slotted the ball past the goalkeeper. The goal ignited the Cegeka Arena, giving the Belgian side a deserved lead.

Despite further efforts from both sides, Genk held their narrow advantage until the break. Freiburg struggled to convert possession into clear-cut chances after their early disallowed goal. Genk’s defence stood firm, repelling visitor attacks.

At the interval, Genk held a slender lead, knowing Freiburg would push hard for an equalizer. The German side needed to find more penetration in the final third. Genk aimed to maintain their defensive shape and threaten on the counter-attack.

Freiburg started the second half with renewed urgency. They increased their ball retention and looked for openings, but Genk’s defence remained resolute. Manager Christian Streich made tactical changes.

Freiburg brought on V. Grifo and J. Beste in the 63rd minute to inject fresh attacking impetus. Y. Suzuki followed in the 71st minute as they chased the game. Genk countered with their own substitutions in the 77th minute, introducing N. Adedeji-Sternberg, J. Kayembe, and J. Kongolo to bolster the midfield and defence.

As the match entered its latter stages, tension rose. El Ouahdi, the goalscorer, received a yellow card in the 74th minute. Freiburg’s B. Ogbus also saw yellow in the 80th minute for a tactical foul.

Genk introduced A. Bibout in the 83rd minute, aiming to run down the clock and secure the result. Freiburg pressed intensely in the dying minutes, but Genk’s disciplined backline held firm. Goalkeeper Tobias Okiki Lawal made two crucial saves to protect his team’s lead.

Statistics underlined Genk’s spirited performance. They boasted an Expected Goals (xG) figure of 0.85 compared to Freiburg’s 0.28, reflecting their offensive threat. Genk also recorded 17 total shots, with 3 on target, against Freiburg’s 5 total shots and 2 on target. Ball possession remained evenly split at 50% for both teams.

This hard-fought victory significantly boosts Genk’s UEFA Europa League campaign, improving their standing in the group. For Freiburg, it marks a missed opportunity to consolidate their position, leaving them with work to do in upcoming fixtures.