UEFA Europa League Round of 16
SC Freiburg 5 - 1 FT Genk
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
19' M. Ginter (V. Grifo)
25' I. Matanovic (M. Ginter)
30' Igor Matanović
M. Smets (K. Karetsas) 39'
44' Jan-Niklas Beste
HT
↓ N. Adedeji-Sternberg ↑Y. Sor 46'
53' V. Grifo
56' Y. Suzuki (J. Manzambi)
58' Johan Manzambi
58' Vincenzo Grifo
Daan Heymans 58'
↓ A. Bibout ↑R. Mirisola 69'
↓ I. Bangoura ↑J. Ito 69'
↓ J. Kayembe ↑Y. Medina 69'
71' ↓ J. Beste ↑L. Holer
72' ↓ I. Matanovic ↑P. Osterhage
72' ↓ V. Grifo ↑D. Scherhant
75' Lucas Höler
79' M. Eggestein (Y. Suzuki)
81' ↓ J. Manzambi ↑P. Lienhart
83' ↓ P. Treu ↑L. Kubler
↓ D. Heymans ↑N. Sattlberger 83'
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
SC Freiburg
Goalkeepers
Noah Atubolu 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Philipp Treu
LATE SHIFT
7
Late Mins
7
Late Mins
83
Total Mins
83
Entry
Matthias Ginter 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Bruno Ogbus
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jordy Makengo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Maximilian Eggestein 
CLOSER
1
Late Goals
1
Late Goals
0
Late Assists
75
Minute
Johan Manzambi 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
7.2
Rating
Jan-Niklas Beste
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
71
Total Mins
71
Entry
Yuito Suzuki
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Vincenzo Grifo
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Forwards
Igor Matanović
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
BENCH
Florian Müller 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Jannik Huth
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Philipp Lienhart 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Lukas Kübler
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Anthony Jung
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Christian Günter
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Patrick Osterhage
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
18
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nicolas Höfler
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lucas Höler
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Derry Scherhant
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
18
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Cyriaque Irié
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Maximilian Philipp
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Genk
Goalkeepers
Tobias Okiki Lawal 
SIEVE
17%
Save %
17%
Save %
5
Conceded
1
Saves
Defenders
Ken Nkuba 
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
5
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Josue Ndenge Kongolo
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
3
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Matte Smets
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Joris Kayembe 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
34%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Bryan Heynen
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ibrahima Sory Bangoura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
69
Total Mins
69
Entry
Konstantinos Karetsas
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
2
Key Passes
7.2
Rating
Daan Heymans
LATE SHIFT
7
Late Mins
7
Late Mins
83
Total Mins
83
Entry
Noah Adedeji-Sternberg
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Forwards
Aaron Bibout
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
69
Total Mins
69
Entry
BENCH
Hendrik Van Crombrugge
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Lucca Brughmans
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Yaimar Medina
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Adrian Palacios
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mujaid Sadick
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nikolas Sattlberger
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yira Collins Sor
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Junya Ito
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Robin Mirisola
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jarne Steuckers
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ayumu Yokoyama
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jusef Erabi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/12/2026 | Genk | 1 - 0 | SC Freiburg | UEFA Europa League | Cegeka Arena |
03/12/2026
SC Freiburg Win
Genk Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
SC Freiburg's Five-Goal Masterclass Erases First-Leg Deficit
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 70/100. Trailing on aggregate at kickoff, the hosts delivered a ruthless attacking clinic to blow away their Belgian visitors and storm into the quarter-finals.
Overturning the Deficit
Freiburg needed an immediate response at the Europa-Park-Stadion. The Stakes were massive following Genk's narrow victory in the first leg. Instead of panicking, the hosts set a blistering tempo right from the whistle. The breakthrough arrived in the 19th minute when M. Ginter found the back of the net, instantly levelling the tie. Six minutes later, I. Matanovic doubled the lead on the night, putting SC Freiburg ahead on aggregate. Genk controlled possession (54%), but their ball circulation lacked penetration against a highly motivated German side. The Intensity of the hosts' pressing rattled the Belgian outfit, turning the pitch into a tactical battleground where direct attacking transitions easily trumped sterile possession.
The Three-Minute Storm
Just when the momentum seemed entirely with the hosts, the Balance of the tie shifted back. In the 39th minute, M. Smets struck for the visitors, making it 2-1 on the night and deadlocking the aggregate score at 2-2. The visitors threatened to spoil the party, but the second half belonged entirely to Freiburg's creative engine. The real turning point came in a devastating three-minute spell shortly after the break. V. Grifo restored the aggregate advantage in the 53rd minute, and before Genk could even process the setback, Y. Suzuki slammed home a fourth. That rapid double blow effectively shattered Genk's resolve, transforming a tense European knockout tie into an exhibition of clinical finishing.
Marching to the Quarters
With the aggregate lead heavily in their favour, the hosts mercilessly exploited the spaces left by a desperate Genk side. A barrage of 28 combined shots across the 90 minutes told the story of a remarkably open contest, but only one team possessed a true killer instinct in the final third. M. Eggestein added the final flourish in the 79th minute, capping off a resounding 5-1 victory. Our verdict? This was a monumental statement of intent from the Bundesliga club. Overturning a deficit in European competition requires both tactical discipline and sheer willpower. By dismantling their opponents with such brutal efficiency, SC Freiburg proved they are a genuine force to be reckoned with as they march confidently into the quarter-finals.
Key Questions
What made Matthias Ginter the Man of the Match?
The defender was colossal at both ends, scoring the crucial opening goal and providing an assist to spark the remarkable comeback.
What caused the 6-goal thriller?
A high shot volume defined the match, with 28 total attempts as Freiburg relentlessly attacked to overturn their first-leg deficit.
What does this mean for SC Freiburg's season?
Overturning a European knockout deficit fuels massive momentum, proving their attacking depth and cementing their status as serious Europa League contenders.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Europa-Park-Stadion Awaits a Second-Leg Thriller
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 85/100. Trailing by a single goal, Freiburg must crack Genk's resilient defense to keep their European dreams alive.
The Setup
The equation is brutally simple for SC Freiburg: win or go home. Following a tight 1-0 defeat in the first leg—courtesy of an early Zakaria El Ouahdi strike—the German side faces a 0-1 aggregate deficit. They will lean heavily on their flawless home record, having won all four of their home fixtures in this campaign. Genk, however, are away day specialists. Winning three out of four road matches proves they know how to handle hostile crowds. A solid Form rating indicates both sides are peaking, but the Stakes define this clash entirely. One team books a quarter-final ticket; the other bows out.
Key Battle
The tactical showdown pits Noah Atubolu against Zakaria El Ouahdi. The Freiburg shot-stopper has been a wall at home, but he faces the exact man who breached his net in the first leg. El Ouahdi's attacking thrusts from the defensive line create a massive mismatch problem. Driven by an off-the-charts Stars rating, this individual duel could determine who advances.
Our Prediction
Freiburg will push relentlessly from the opening whistle, feeding off the Europa-Park-Stadion energy. Genk will absorb pressure and hunt for spaces on the break. Expect the hosts to force the issue, grab the necessary goal to level the aggregate tie, and push this nerve-wracking contest all the way into extra time.