published: thursday 6 december 2012, 23.00cet krc genk 0-0 fc basel 1893
the swiss super league outfit secured the point they needed to reach the last 32 with the home side also going through as group winners.
fc basel 1893 earned the point they needed to join their hosts and uefa europa league group g winners krc genk in the round of 32 thanks to a goalless draw in belgium.
genk were already guaranteed a place in the knockout phase and, although basel dominated this matchday six contest for long spells, the visitors were unable to find the elusive goal that would have taken them through above their opponents as table toppers. the swiss side will qualify ahead of videoton fc – who will play their postponed game against sporting clube de portugal on 7 december – courtesy of a superior head-to-head record.
requiring a positive result to remain in the competition, murat yakin's men controlled possession early on. fabian frei and marco streller were at the heart of much of basel's incisive attacking play but they laboured to make the breakthrough in the first half. frei was denied from close range before valentin stocker's cross was headed goalwards by fabian schär, only for goalkeeper lászló köteles to acrobatically tip the defender's header over the bar.
the match followed a similar pattern after the interval, with streller latching onto a through ball and striking a left post as basel upped the pressure. however, neither team could apply the finishing touch to their neat build-up play and it stayed goalless, meaning genk take their place in the 20 december draw as group winners.
