Ex-West Ham and Tottenham stars underwhelm as Son's countryman comes agonizingly close

By Alessandro Schiavone at CEGEKA Arena, Genk

KRC Genk 0-0 Betis Sevilla Balompié

Oh Hyeon-gyu hit the foot of the post in the second-half as Genk and Real Betis Balompie could not be separated in a goalless draw in matchday 3 in the Europa League tonight.

That's as good as it got in this dull game as the fifth-placed La Liga side, who were taken to the cleaners by Chelsea in the Europa Conference final in May, failed to turn up completely. Unlike their fans. Numerous and vociferous

Ex-Tottenham Hotspur man Giovani lo Celso underwhelmed in midfield, struggling to provide the spark the southern Spaniards craved to open up the hosts.

Playing just off Bakambu as a number 10, the man from Rosario huffed and puffed and had a shot blocked and offered nothing else.

He looked glum as he made his way through the mixed-zone after the game.

The two-time Copa America winner's display could have turned into an umitigated disaster when he was robbed off the ball near Genk's box. Luckily for him, he got away with it as Hrosovsku not only fired wide after Genk broke quickly but he was flagged offside.

True to their Spanish identity, Manuel Pellegrini's side passed the opposition to death in the first-half before they transformed their approach into a more vertical and direct one.

Yet Bakambu and ex-Watford man Cucho Hernandez both failed to hit the target. And keeper Hendrik Van Crombrugge's gloves are so clean he could ask for a refund.

While Hector Bellerin was an unused substitute, Hammers midfielder Pablo Fornals came on for Nelson Deossa in the 63rd minute but like his ex-London-rival-turned-teammate he was largely stodgy.

Antony, who scored a brace against Villarreal in La Liga last weekend, was hooked after half-time after picking up a yellow card.

And with it, any hope for some magic and goals.

Betis are still unbeaten in the competition courtesy of a win over Ludogorets either side of stalemates with Nottingham Forest and tonight in Belgium. Genk meanwhile have four points on board as Thorsten Fink's men bounced back from an opening-day home defeat to Ferencvaros with a win at Rangers and a valuable point with ex-Arsenal star Bellerin's in-form Verdiblancos.