On the opening day of the Champions League group stage, Genk were battered. The Belgian side went away to Red Bull Salzburg and received a 6-2 pasting. Teen sensation Erling Håland scored a first half hat-trick to pile the misery onto the group’s minnows. The second match week saw a very different kind of display from Genk, they welcomed a battle hardened Napoli side to the Luminus Arena and managed to keep the game goalless. Here is what we learned from the Genk draw with Napoli.
What we learned from Genk draw with Napoli. (Photo by Soccrates/Getty Images)
They got lucky
Napoli were denied twice by the woodwork in the first half. In the opening minutes Jose Callejon struck the post after defensive disarray handed him a golden opportunity. Later on in the half, Callejon whipped in an inch perfect cross for Arkadiusz Milik, only for the Polish striker to head the ball on to the bar. They are certainly still vulnerable at the back and the Reds are less likely to strike woodwork as often as Napoli did.
Genk won’t sit back
The hosts may not have had as much of the ball as Napoli – the Italians boasted 63% of possession – but they were still having attempts on goal. The Belgian side fired off 14 shots throughout the game, a lot of attacking intent for a team that shipped 6 goals in their opening fixture.
They’re wasteful in front of goal
Just seven minutes before the end of the game, Genk were presented with a golden opportunity. The ball broke to Ianis Hagi in the area, he had an unchallenged strike at goal and managed to sky it. If he had hit the target it would have surely gone in.
Whilst the Belgians certainly pose a different type of threat than Liverpool faced against Red Bull Salzburg, they are certainly there for the taking and the Reds will be kicking themselves if they don’t leave Belgium with three points.