Dynamo first for wily Genk
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Article summary
FC Dynamo Kyiv kick off their third UEFA Europa League group stage campaign against KRC Genk, with the Belgian side having remained unbeaten in last season's section.
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FC Dynamo Kyiv have never met KRC Genk before, but if previous meetings with Belgian clubs are anything to go by, goals can be expected in UEFA Europa League Group G.
Previous meetings
• The sides are meeting for the first time and this is Genk's first encounter with Ukrainian opponents.
• Dynamo's six previous games against Belgian clubs have ended W3 D0 L3 (W2 D0 L1 at home). Going by previous form their meeting with Genk should be exciting: the winning side in those six matches has scored at least three goals, with 26 produced in total at an average of more than four per game.
Match background
• This is Dynamo's third UEFA Europa League group stage campaign; they made it all the way to the quarter-finals in 2010/11 but failed to reach the last 32 the following season.
• Dynamo's 5-1 victory against FK Aktobe in the play-offs ended a three-game wait for a home victory in Europe, comprising two draws and a 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain FC.
• Last season Genk made it through to the round of 32 unbeaten on what was their UEFA Europa League group stage debut, topping their section with three wins and three draws.
• Genk have gone a calendar year unbeaten away from home in Europe having recorded two away wins and three draws since losing 2-1 at FC Luzern in the first leg of last season's UEFA Europa League play-offs on 30 August 2012.
Team facts
• Dynamo's Congolese striker Dieumerci Mbokani has extensive experience of Belgian football; he spent two spells with RSC Anderlecht (2006-07 and 2011-13) either side of representing R. Standard de Liège (2007-10). Genk goalkeeper Kristof Van Hout (2009-10) was among his Standard team-mates.
• Dynamo's Croatian midfielder Ognen Vukojević also played in Belgium with K. Lierse SK in 2005.
Coach information
• Oleh Blokhin has been coaching the club he graced as a player, Dynamo, since September 2012, stepping down as Ukraine coach for a second time after leading them out as co-hosts at UEFA EURO 2012. The European Footballer Of the Year in 1975, Blokhin won eight Soviet titles and two European Cup Winners' Cups in a glorious spell at Dynamo from 1969 to 1988. He started coaching in Greece, but returned home to help Ukraine reach the 2006 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals.
• Hired in August 2011, Dutchman Mario Been won his first trophy as Genk coach when he guided his side to the 2012/13 Belgian Cup. An attacking midfielder, 'Mariodona' played for hometown club Feyenoord, Pisa Calcio, Roda JC, sc Heerenveen, FC Tirol Innsbruck and another Rotterdam side, SBV Excelsior. He subsequently coached both Excelsior and Feyenoord either side of leading NEC Nijmegen through the 2008/09 UEFA Cup group stage.