KAA Gent received praise from analysts following Sunday's 1-1 draw at KRC Genk. Peter Vandenbempt and Marc Degryse saw a team playing like a leader and taking a step forward.
Vandenbempt reacted positively to Gent's performance. "On the basis of the match it was a good result for KAA Gent. In footballing terms it was a good test," the analyst said. He pointed out that Gent played with the confidence of a leader for about half an hour. Rik De Mil's team took a point at the Cegeka Arena, remaining unbeaten in the league. Gent now sits second in the Jupiler Pro League with sixteen points from six games.
Degryse critical
On the other side, Marc Degryse was critical of Genk. He looked at coach Jess Thorup's forward line. "The forward line Jess Thorup started with against AA Gent disappointed me: Ayumu Yokoyama, Erenbjerg and Junya Ito." Degryse explained. He argued for starting Noah Adedeji-Sternberg and Daan Heymans against Club Brugge. According to the analyst, Genk, which has nine points, could fall far behind early if things go poorly.
Context for Gent
The situation is bright for Gent. The Buffaloes are unbeaten in twelve consecutive matches, including Conference League qualifying rounds. They share the top spot with Union SG and have scored eleven goals while conceding three. The latest goal came from Momodou Sonko, who scored the opener after ten minutes. The return leg against Hibernian was won 2-3, continuing the European campaign.
The next test comes Friday night at home against Standard Liege. A victory would mean a perfect start of six matches without defeat. Standard currently sits sixth and lost the last meeting 0-4. The lineup and injury status for that match can be found on our squad page. The full league schedule is on the fixtures overview.
Rik De Mil has clearly communicated his vision for attractive football. The team showed against Genk they can compete with a direct rival. The defence, which has conceded only three goals, provides a solid foundation. The coming weeks, including a cup match, are vital for maintaining their position. The current standings can be followed via standings.
