The profiles of Servet-Genk, potential opponents of Olympiakos in the Europa League

Napkin

Servet is therefore the team that will be 50% in the way of the red and whites, finishing in second place in the Swiss league.

The events of the season

The Geneva team fought for the 2nd place in the Swiss championship, since they were far behind the pioneer Young Boys, who very easily won the first place and the title. In fact, Servette had to fight until the last matchday to finish there, after counting one point more than 3rd Lugano. In fact, it is returning to Europe, since in 2021/22 it was in sixth place.

The coach

The team does not have a coach, as Allen Geiger who was on its roster for the last five years, announced his departure from the team, without having won a title.

Tradition with Greek groups

Servet has faced three Greek teams in the past. The beginning was made in 1978/79 against PAOK for the Cup Winners’ Cup, where despite the fact that it was defeated 2-0 in Toumba, it overturned the facts in the second leg and with the imposing 4-0, qualified for the next phase. For the same event, he had also faced her AEL in 1984/85, with the Larissa club qualifying with two wins (2-1, 0-1). Finally, on her way she also found him Mars in 1999/00 for the UEFA Cup, with the “yellows” being the ones who advanced to the competition (1-1, 1-2).

Genk

The second team that is likely to be in the way of the “greens” is Genk, who finished in a very adventurous way in the 2nd place of the Belgian league.

This season’s events

Wouter Vranken’s team had a very good presence in the domestic championship and came within a breath of the title, reaching it until the last game of the playoffs, without ultimately succeeding. In fact, it will return to a European competition, as this season it had no obligations outside the borders, since in 2021/22 it was 2nd in the Europa Conference League group.

The coach

Wouter Vranken has been at the club since the start of the 2022/23 season, cashing in on a very successful four-year spell on the Mechelen bench, including winning the Belgian Cup, in 2018/19, while in 2022 he was named Jupiler League Manager of the Year. Something he showed in practice this year as well, taking a team that finished sixth, making them contenders for the title, losing him, in fact, in the details.

As for the star of the team, he is none other than Mike Treasure. The 24-year-old attacking midfielder, who has a market value of €13m, has been impressive this season, counting 8 goals and 23 assists!

The tradition Greek teams

Genk have previously only competed with AEK, in the Champions League groups in the 2002/03 season, with both games ending in a draw (0-0 in Belgium, 1-1 in New Philadelphia). In fact, the “Union” had not managed to pass to the “16” of the top inter-club competition, without having a single defeat, something that has never happened before until today.

With the conquest of the championship by Antwerp in Belgium and Genk finally finishing in 2nd place, Olympiakos also locked in its potential opponents in the 3rd qualifying round of the Europa League! More specifically, three groups are candidates. So, these are the three that Panathinaikos “plays” with in the immediately preceding qualifying phase, end of July and beginning of August, for the Champions League. Namely: Servette, Genk and Dnipro!