The second leg of the 2025/26 Europa League round-of-16 tie between Sport-Club Freiburg (Germany) and Koninklijke Racing Club Genk (Belgium) will take place on 19 March at Europa-Park Stadion. The score in the first leg was 1:0 in favour of Koninklijke Racing Club Genk. Sport-Club Freiburg vs Koninklijke Racing Club Genk: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Sport-Club Freiburg
Sport-Club Freiburg lost the first leg 0:1. That was the club’s second straight defeat in the Europa League, something that has happened to the German side for the first time in the history of this competition. Julian Schuster’s men have also failed to score for the third time in this season’s tournament. In the upcoming match, the hosts need to improve their finishing, because only a win will be enough to reach the next round. At the same time, the team have won five consecutive home games in the Europa League.
- At least one side failed to score in Sport-Club Freiburg’s last five Europa League matches.
- At home, the German side kept a clean sheet in four of their previous five matches in this tournament.
- In their last six home Europa League matches, the team have not scored more than two goals.
Potential Sport-Club Freiburg Lineup (4-5-1)*
Noah Atubolu – Bruno Ogbus, Christian Gunter, Matthias Ginter, Philipp Troj – Johan Manzambi, Yuito Suzuki, Jan-Niklas Beste, Vincenzo Grifo, Patrick Osterhage – Igor Matanovic.
Defender Maximilian Rosenfelder and midfielder Daniel-Kofi Kyere will miss out through injury.
Koninklijke Racing Club Genk
That win in the first leg was the Belgian side’s sixth victory in their last eight Europa League matches (two defeats). However, it was only the second time in that spell that Nicky Hayen’s men managed to keep a clean sheet. At the same time, Koninklijke Racing Club Genk’s scoring run in this competition has now reached five games. To progress to the next round, the visitors simply need to avoid defeat in the return leg. If the Belgian side lose by a one-goal margin, the tie will go to extra time. Notably, five of the team’s previous six defeats in the Europa League were by exactly one goal.
- Koninklijke Racing Club Genk have not conceded more than once in six of their last seven Europa League matches.
- Away from home in this tournament, the club have won five of their previous six matches (one defeat).
- The Belgian side have scored in five of their last six away Europa League matches.
Potential Koninklijke Racing Club Genk Lineup (4-3-3)*
Tobias Lawal – Zakaria El Ouahdi, Matte Smets, Josue Kongolo, Joris Kayembe – Daan Heymans, Bryan Heynen, Ibrahima Sory Bangoura – Aaron Bibout, Konstantinos Karetsas, Noah Adedeji-Sternberg.
Defender Zakaria El Ouahdi is suspended.
Referee
Michael Oliver (England)
Matches – 12 (international matches, 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second cautions) – 48;
Average yellow cards per match – 4;
Red cards shown – 1;
Average fouls per match – 24;
Penalties – 0%.
Sport-Club Freiburg vs Koninklijke Racing Club Genk: Match Prediction
The first leg was short on talking points and was decided by a single goal. With the Belgian side set to travel in order to protect their advantage, it is unlikely we will see many goals this time either. Although Koninklijke Racing Club Genk do concede regularly in the Europa League, the club do not suffer major defensive collapses. In this season’s competition, the only real goalfest that comes to mind was against Braga, and that was the only time in the team’s last nine away Europa League matches that they conceded more than once.
Sport-Club Freiburg have also looked strong at the back. Julian Schuster’s men have not conceded more than one goal in a Europa League match in 2025/26. However, those numbers may fade into the background given that the German side need to score, ideally more than once. That is where things look far less convincing. Across their last five Europa League matches, the club have scored only two goals, one of which came against Maccabi Tel Aviv, who were the weakest defensive team in the league phase.
Prediction: Under 3 goals
* Each team’s starting lineup is taken from their most recent match in this tournament.
