Freiburg – Genk: Time for revenge in the Black Forest 
This Thursday night the Europa-Park Stadion will be on fire for a Europa League last-16 second leg that smells like high drama. Beaten by the smallest margin (1-0) in Belgium last week, Freiburg are up against it — they have to flip the script while Genk dream of writing club history.
Freiburg’s mood is grim 
Times are rough for Julian Schuster’s side. In the league it’s been a mess — another stumble last weekend, a 1-0 loss to Union Berlin. Their recent record gives you a headache: one win in the last six, and the European spots drifting away (eleven points off sixth). If this keeps up, they’ll end the season as one of the bigger disappointments.
But at home it’s a different animal. The coach said it himself: “Anything can happen in the return.” He’s not kidding. Freiburg are a powerhouse at the Stadion — only one defeat since August. They’ve won all four of their European home games this season. Backed by a noisy crowd, they have the firepower to score the goals needed and turn this tie upside down.
Genk travelling in first class 
Over at Genk, morale is high since Nicky Hayen took charge in December. After a blip in early March, the visitors have steadied the ship with two clean sheets in a row, including a 1-0 league win over Sint-Truiden. They pulled off a tidy tactical heist in the first leg — now they just need to bunker down in Germany and they’ll be through, maybe for the first time since 2016-17.
The real threat for Freiburg? Genk love an away trip. They’ve won five of six European road games this season, losing only narrowly (1-0) at Midtjylland in December. Disciplined, organised and lethal on the break, they’re no soft touch.
Likely line-ups
Freiburg : Atubolu ; Treu, Ginter, Ogbus, Gunter ; Eggestein, Manzambi ; Beste, Suzuki, Grifo ; Matanovic
Genk : Lawal ; Nkuba, Kongolo, Smets, Kayembe ; Karetsas, Sattlberger, Heymans ; Sor, Mirisola, Ito
Football Tip Freiburg vs Genk
Freiburg to win
Stung by poor league form, Freiburg have little left to lose and everything to prove in Europe. They’re relentless at home and will shove every player and ounce of energy into this from the first whistle.
Genk are excellent on the road and solid at the back, but the pressure from the Europa-Park crowd will be relentless for 90 minutes. Expect the hosts to win this one, though Genk could cling on and force a twist on aggregate or drag it into extra time.
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