Genk hope for more of the same against Rapid

KRC Genk are on target to make it through a second successive UEFA Europa League group stage unbeaten as they go into their game against SK Rapid Wien with a 100% record.

Previous meetings
• The two teams are meeting for the first time in UEFA competition and this is Genk's first encounter with Austrian opposition.

• Rapid's ten previous meetings with Belgian clubs have produced the record W4 D2 L4 (W3 D0 L2 in Vienna – W1 D2 L2 in Belgium). However, they are without a win in their last five contests with Belgian sides (D1 L4) since beating RC Liégeois 1-0 in the third round of the 1989/90 UEFA Cup on 22 November 1989.

Match background
• Genk are in the driving seat in Group G after kicking off with a 1-0 victory at FC Dynamo Kyiv and a 2-1 home success versus FC Thun; they have won all four of their games in Europe this season.

• 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.

• A Christopher Trimmel equaliser deep into added time on matchday two allowed Rapid to claim a 2-2 draw against Dynamo and a first Group G point.

• Rapid have lost their last five UEFA Europa League group stage away games since defeating PFC CSKA Sofia 2-0 on matchday three of the 2010/11 edition.

• This is Rapid's fourth attempt at the group stage of this competition, though they have yet to successfully navigate their way through to the last 32.

Team facts
• Rapid defender Brian Behrendt celebrates his 22nd birthday on the day of the Genk match.

• KSV Waterschei, who merged with KFC Winterslag to form Genk in 1988, reached the semi-finals of the 1982/83 European Cup Winners' Cup, losing out to Alex Ferguson's Aberdeen FC.

Coach information
• 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 home-town 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.

• Zoran Barisic's second spell as Rapid coach commenced in spring 2013, and the midfielder has deep roots with the club. Born in Vienna but of Croatian descent, he was among the key performers as Rapid reached the 1995/96 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final and won the Austrian title the same year, and later won three titles at FC Tirol Innsbruck. He returned to the Rapid youth ranks to start his coaching career.