Royal Charleroi Sporting Club vs KRC Genk

Charleroi were at their best when it mattered most, beating Genk 2-0 at the Stade du Pays de Charleroi to reignite their European playoff challenge. The Zebras, who needed a result badly, were the hungrier side after the break and fully earned three vital points. Kévin Van Den Kerkhof broke the deadlock on 55 minutes, finishing clinically after Aurélien Scheidler cut the ball back inside the box. Parfait Guiagon then doubled the lead from the penalty spot in the 69th minute, after VAR confirmed a handball by Bangoura on a cross. Genk had actually looked sharper in the first half — Daan Heymans struck the post and had a header stopped by goalkeeper Mohamed Koné — but they couldn't build on it after the interval. The result shakes the standings. Charleroi climb to 27 points, drawing level with Standard and Antwerp and sitting just three behind leaders Genk, who suffer their first defeat of the Europe Play-Offs. With five rounds still to play, the race for a European berth is wide open.