A sizeable FIVE minutes of injury time has been allocated by the referee here which is only prolonging the heartache for Athletic, who just want to head home to Spain now. This weekend is the small matter of a trip to the Santiago Bernabeu to face Real Madrid, so not exactly the best preparation with this performance.
90'
Muniain gets yellow.
The frustration of this scoreline is starting to get to the players of Athletic now as there is some indiscipline creeping in. The guilty party is Muniain who show be showing a smarter composure, but ends up seeing yellow.
88'
SAAAAAAVE FROM HERRERIN! Genk are hungry for more goals even at this stage of play as Bailey takes the game to the opposition defence once again. The tricky winger gains a yard on Saborit before lashing a strike towards the left corner, but the Athletic goalkeeper keeps the scoreline low with another smart stop.
86'
Things look to be going from bad to worse for Athletic here as Alvarez is down injured after going into a challenge with Bailey to prevent the Genk winger running through on goal. Unclear if it is an impact or muscle injury, but he will leave the pitch on a stretcher nonetheless as the visitors go down to 10 men.
84'
L. Trossard enters the game and replaces N. Karelis.
Maes reacts quickly to that second goal and makes a second change, as Leandro Trossard comes on for Karelis.
83'
W. Ndidi has scored a goal for Genk!
GOOOOOOAAAAAALLL! GOOOAAAALLL FOR GENK! A screamer from Ndidi! A cross is floated into the Athletic box from the right flank and Iturraspe vigilantly gets up to clear out of the danger area. However, it only goes as far as the 19-year-old Nigerian, who smashes a terrific half-volley into the top left corner! His performance has deserved that goal! Two-nil.
82'
Just under ten minutes to go and Athletic are really running out of time to claw something, anything out of this trip to Belgium. At the moment they will go back to the Basque region with no points, no goals, and a pretty awful performance to go with it, but still some time left, however little.
80'
Elustondo enters the game and replaces San José.
Susaeta enters the game and replaces I. Williams.
Valverde in turn makes his second change of the match, as he needs to go for things now. Leaving the action is San Jose and his replacement will be Gorka Elustondo.
It turns out it is a double-substitution from the visitors, and the second alteration sees Markel Susaeta replace the ineffective Williams.
78'
B. Heynen enters the game and replaces T. Sušić.
Second change from Peter Maes as he makes another throw of the dice from the dugout. Leaving the pitch is Susic, and he will be replaced by Bryan Heynen, who at 19 years of age, will certainly provide some much needed energy in midfield in these latter stages.
Minute
Description
75'
A much better period from Valverde's side now as they start to pepper the Genk goal with a few shots on goal. Muniain has the first crack after cutting inside from the left wing and his shot is blocked, but only as far as Iturraspe who flashes the rebound back into the danger area. It takes a deflection on the route through and goes out for a corner-kick.
73'
Laporte actually gets so frustrated at the lack of movement ahead of him that he goes on a gliding dribble out of defence all the way up the park and actually finds himself as Athletic's most advanced player. The attack comes to nothing, which means the France international is forced to retreat back with his blood continuing to boil.
71'
It is quite incredible the amount of times that Athletic have got into decent positions in the final third, only for a poor final cross or pass to take the sting out of their attack. Raul Garcia is the culprit on this occasion as he sends a slack ball aimed at the feet of Aduriz which is very easily cleaned up by Castagne.
69'
Genk have been very impressive so far this evening and you can see how they managed to overcome Sassuolo at home in the previous match at the Cristal Arena. Ndidi in particular has been excellent in midfield, controlling the game with ease against this out-of-sorts Basque outfit.
67'
GREAT SAVE FROM HERRERIN! Pozuelo receives the ball to feet around 25 yards out and moves forward completely unopposed before lashing a strike low towards the bottom left corner. He is thwarted by the Athletic goalkeeper, though, who superbly gets down to turn the attempt round the post!
65'
Without their free-kick specialist, Benat, this evening, Iturraspe is tasked with the set-piece around 35 yards out in the centre of the pitch. The cross is swung ominously to the back post, but the threat is lifted away from the Genk defence as Aduriz gives away the foul with an awkward handball.
64'
T. Sušić gets yellow.
63'
First booking of the match for Genk now and the guilty party is Susic, who may just be trying to source a little bit of revenge of Alvarez for the latter's challenge moments ago on Nastic. A poor tackle from the midfielder sees him correctly see yellow.
61'
Valverde needs to change something to affect this desperately disappointing Athletic front four here. Williams in particular has been very quiet, but Aduriz hasn't covered himself in glory either as the duo stand pretty close to each other up top, with very little movement to present for a pass from midfield.
59'
Raúl García gets yellow.
Another booking for Athletic as Alvarez goes in late on Nastic.
58'
It looks like Samatta is initially going to have a great impact off the bench as he takes the game to Athletic with a powerful run through the middle, beating away challenges as he goes. However, his subsequent pass to Karelis is poor as Lekue steps in to win possession.
56'
M. Samatta enters the game and replaces T. Buffel.
Unfortunately for the hosts, Buffel has been unable to shake off the injury he received after that nasty knee to the back from Aduriz, who was lucky not to see another booking and subsequent red. His replacement will be Ally Samatta.
54'
Aduriz picks up the ball on the edge of the box for Athletic and goes to play a simple pass to the right wing for Williams. However, this is another example of a lack of cohesion among the strikeforce for the visitors as the ball ends up going astray, which allows Nastic to intervene for the Genk counter.
52'
A scrappy start to the second period as both sides aren't really finding each other which shorts passes in midfield. More often than not the ball has been in the air as the respective defences trade blows in a game of 'head-tennis'.
50'
That altercation in which Aduriz should have been punished two minutes ago sums up a rather spikey atmosphere on the pitch which has been prominent from pretty much the get-go. Unclear where the ill-feeling has came from, but some aspects of the play have gone a bit further than simple competitiveness.
48'
Aduriz is absolutely begging to get sent off here. Not only does he clearly knee Buffel in the back during an Athletic corner-kick, but does so whilst on a yellow card for a previous offence in the first half. Perhaps the former Valencia striker is looking to have the next few Thursdays off on holiday...
46'
Enric Saborit enters the game and replaces Balenziaga.
A change at the break from Valverde as he introduces Enric Saborit in place of Balenziaga.
The second half is under way!
44'
What on earth is Karelis doing?! Genk tear through the Athletic midfield with a superb counter-attack and it is Pozuelo who leads the charge. He finds his team-mate to the left but the subsequent strike on goal from the centre-forward is slashed horribly wide. He had two team-mates BEGGING for a squared pass inside the box for the tap-in!
42'
That goal has absolutely raised the roof inside the Cristal Arena and the Genk faithful are bouncing in the stands as we approach the end of the half. Indeed, if anyone looks likely to net the second goal of the match before the break, it is the home side! Athletic look shellshocked.
40'
J. Brabec has scored a goal for Genk!
GOOOOOAAAAAAALLLL FOR GENK! The hosts open the lead just before the break! Bailey is involved in the action positively again as he easily skips inside the challenge of his marker inside the box to curl an attempt to the far corner. Herrerin makes the save but fails to keep out the rebound from Brabec, who smashes in from close range! One-nil.
38'
Genk are finishing the first half strongly and have just earned their second corner in as many minutes. Strangely, though, they opt to take it short which completely takes the pressure off this Athletic defence, which has looked decidedly shaky at times in this first half.
36'
Bailey has looked a bright spark for Genk so far and goes on another one of his dangerous dribbles, this time displaying an electric bit of pace to burst beyond the Athletic midfield. He is only thwarted by some cracking defending from Alvarez, who shows he is no slouch himself by sprinting across the pitch to concede the corner.
34'
A decent period of sustained possession from the Basque side here but it is coming with very little penetration or creativity. At times this campaign the front four of Aduriz, Muniain, Williams and Raul Garcia have linked up superbly, but definitely not this evening so far! Not a lot of cohesion.
32'
The referee is forced to intervene like a school teacher now as Laporte and Karelis get into a melee inside the Athletic half. The Genk man does indeed have the right to feel aggrieved though as it appeared as though he got a kick to the knee from the Spanish centre-back, but the official doesn't spot it.
30'
Fifteen minutes to go in the first half here in Belgium and neither side is looking particularly likely to open the scoring before receiving their half-time oranges. A lot of battling and niggling challenges in midfield, but very little creativity unfortunately.
28'
A rare first-half attempt on goal from Athletic now and it comes from a corner-kick down the right. Raul Garcia is the man who rises above his marker to bullet a header at goal, but unfortunately for him the direction does not match the power as the attempt goes over, with Bizot not troubled between the sticks.
26'
Bailey goes on a twisting and turning run down the right and then shifts possession back on to his left foot before sending an outstanding cross deep to the back post. Lekue clears, but only as far as Susic who slams an attempt towards goal, but the fans are forced to sit back down after springing to life as it hits the WRONG side of the net.
24'
Aduriz gets yellow.
Aduriz goes into the book for dissent, seemingly trying to defend Raul Garcia. Silly.
23'
A small break in play at the moment as Raul Garcia is down after appearing to receive a knock to the face from Ndidi. The Nigerian actually did just flick out into the space in front of the former Atletico man's face, but never saw him come from behind so there was nothing sinister involved in the altercation. Raul Garcia, obviously, thinks to the contrary.
21'
GOOOOAAAAALLLL FOR ATHLETIC! WAIT! NO! OFFSIDE! Aduriz initially starts the attack lying on the floor recovering from a knock, only to spring into action as Williams gets in behind down the right channel. He receives possession from his team-mate for the easy finish, but was just ahead of play, rather incredibly! He should have just stood a yard back after getting up! NO GOAL.
19'
Raul Garcia takes the ball into his chest completely unopposed inside the Genk half and turns quickly before finding Muniain. The talented winger cuts back into the centre of the pitch before going to curl a pass in behind the full-back for the oncoming Williams, but like Alvarez moments ago, Brabec makes the important interception.
17'
Pozuelo takesthe ball into feet just outside the centre circle and swivels sharply before moving into the final third. He attempts to thread an incisive pass down the left channel for Buffel, but Alvarez is position perfectly on the edge of the box to make the vital interception for the Basque outfit.
15'
The opening portion of the match has largely been sustained possession from Genk with the odd flutter of quality from Athletic. However, the home side have been guilty of a bit of complacency as they are continually letting the visitors off the hook with needless fouls, which only succeeds in taking the pressure off the opposition defence.
13'
JUST OVER FROM ADURIZ! We get our first glimpse of the threat posed by the former Valencia striker as he utilises his strength to get in behind the defence to claim the ball with an outstanding touch. He goes to lob the oncoming goalkeeper, but can't get his attempt under the crossbar. Goal-kick to Genk.
11'
Not a proud captain's moment for Muniain here as he goes down clutching his face after very minimal contact from Susic down the right flank in front of the dugout. The referee correctly does not give a free-kick, and the Athletic skipper is forced to sheepishly get to his feet to continue the match.
9'
Castagne picks up the ball deep down the right-hand side and skips past the challenge of Balenziaga before hitting the byline to smash a teasing cross to the back post. Good defending from Laporte, though, who rises above everyone to make the commanding clearance out of the box.
7'
Athletic are yet to really find their feet in an attacking sense as of yet, with some slack passes not coming off here and there. Aduriz in particular has cut a pretty frustrated figure, but still early doors, of course.
5'
The fans inside the Cristal Arena will need to create quite the atmosphere tonight to catalyse a performance from their side against this talented Athletic outfit. As the standings in the group prove, though, every team has been fairly evenly-matched so far in the competition.
3'
Excellent goalkeeping from Herrerin! The home side have made a positive start to proceedings here and manage to get in behind the opposition defence with a lofted pass, but the Athletic stopper reads it and dashes out from between the sticks to clear away the danger.
1'
We are under way at the Cristal Arena!
Genk's opening win of the Europa League came two weeks ago as they impressively swept away the Serie A side with a comfortable 3-1 victory, with Nikos Karelis, Leon Bailey, and Thomas Buffel all getting on the scoresheet. Athletic recorded their solitary victory with a narrow 1-0 result against Rapid Vienna at San Mames, with Benat the solitary scorer.
Group F has proved to be one of the more entertaining groups so far in the competition, as the two sides featuring tonight, as well as Rapid Vienna and Sassuolo, have all won a game and lost a game in their opening two fixtures. With all four outfits currently sitting on three points, wins between now and the end of this stage of the tournament will prove vital in order to achieve progression.
Good evening football fans! Welcome to LIVE coverage of the UEFA Europa League Group F encounter between KRC Genk and Athletic Bilbao from the Cristal Arena.
The viewing public are actually witnessing a little bit of history this evening as this is actually the first time ever Genk have faced Athletic in European competition. The Belgian outfit do not have happy recent memories of facing sides from the Spanish Primera Division though, as Valencia put seven past them in a 7-0 result away in the Champions League.
The teams are making their way to the pitch and we are almost ready for kick-off!
Half-time in Genk. A solitary strike Brabec just before the break has given Genk a narrow 1-0 lead over Athletic Bilbao at the break in this Europa League Group F encounter. Certainly a deserved lead for the Belgian outfit, but Ernesto Valverde's charges surely will improve on their performance in the opening 45 minutes. Second period to come.
Full time at the Cristal Arena. Athletic Bilbao's poor European form away from home continues as they go down 2-0 to an impressive Genk side, who never really looked troubled by the Spanish Primera Division outfit. The goalscorers on the night for the Belgian side were Brabec and Ndidi, with the latter in particular likely to steal the headlines. Thanks for joining us, see you next time.
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