Grifo sets record as Freiburg crush Genk to reverse deficit and secure quarter-final place

The match started quietly, but it burst into action in the 19th minute when Freiburg took the lead.

Vincenzo Grifo curled in a free-kick from the left side, which Matthias Ginter headed accurately into the goal off the far post, the defenders third strike in six outings drawing the teams level on aggregate.

Genk refused to be discouraged and nearly responded right away as Joris Kayembe surged down the left and delivered an excellent cross to Aaron Bibout, yet Noah Atubolu made a superb stop to keep Freiburg ahead in the game.

That save proved vital when Julian Schusters side moved in front overall before the 30-minute mark, with Ginter playing a key role again.

Yuito Suzukis shot took a lucky deflection into Ginters path inside the penalty area, and he nodded it across for Igor Matanovic to poke in at the back post for his ninth goal this season.

Genk appeared stunned after shipping two goals so swiftly, but they regrouped and began mounting their own attacks.

They equalised on aggregate just before the interval as Konstantinos Karetsas effort struck the upright and bounced back across goal to the Greek player, who then passed for Smets to shoot beyond Atubolu.

Ken Nkuba wasted a golden opportunity for Genk to regain the overall lead before the break, blasting over from Bibouts pull-back and leaving the contest delicately balanced for the second period.

Genk seemed to hold the upper hand at half-time, but Freiburg seized control after the restart.

A mistake by Genk allowed their goalscorer Smets to misplace a pass across his own box, which Grifo intercepted to smash in his 106th strike for Freiburg, establishing him as the clubs record all-time leading marksman.

Four minutes after that, Suzuki initiated and completed a rapid break, firing into the bottom corner following a pass from Johan Manzambi, giving them a seemingly insurmountable two-goal advantage on aggregate.

Genk showed no signs of mounting a comeback from those twin setbacks, and their elimination was sealed in the 79th minute as Maximilian Eggestein rifled in from the edge of the box.

This dominant offensive performance might have surprised Freiburg fans, considering the team had not scored in three of their previous four fixtures, but now they anticipate a quarter-final clash with Celta Vigo.

Genk fail to reach the last eight for the first time since 2016/17, as this disappointing outcome extends their poor streak in away matches against German sides to five games without a victory.