Season | 2018–19 |
---|---|
Dates | 27 July 2018 – 19 May 2019 |
Champions | Genk |
Relegated | Lokeren |
Champions League | Genk Club Brugge |
Europa League | Standard Liège Royal Antwerp Gent |
Top goalscorer | Hamdi Harbaoui (25 goals) |
← 2017–18 2019–20 →
All statistics correct as of 12 May 2019. |
The 2018–19 Belgian First Division A (officially known as Jupiler Pro League) was the 116th season of top-tier football in Belgium.
Team changes
[edit]- Mechelen was relegated after finishing last in the 2017–18 Belgian First Division A, ending a streak of 11 seasons at the highest level.
- Cercle Brugge was promoted after winning the promotion play-offs against Beerschot Wilrijk. The club returns to the highest tier three seasons after relegation from the Belgian Pro League in 2014–15.
Teams
[edit]Stadiums and locations
[edit]Matricule | Club | Location | Venue | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|---|
35 | Anderlecht | Anderlecht | Constant Vanden Stock Stadium | 21,500 |
1 | Antwerp | Antwerp | Bosuilstadion | 12,975 |
12 | Cercle Brugge | Bruges | Jan Breydel Stadium | 29,042 |
22 | Charleroi | Charleroi | Stade du Pays de Charleroi | 14,000 |
3 | Club Brugge | Bruges | Jan Breydel Stadium | 29,042 |
4276 | Eupen | Eupen | Kehrweg Stadion | 8,363 |
322 | Genk | Genk | Luminus Arena | 24,956 |
7 | Gent | Ghent | Ghelamco Arena | 20,000 |
19 | Kortrijk | Kortrijk | Guldensporen Stadion | 9,399 |
282 | Lokeren | Lokeren | Daknamstadion | 12,000 |
216 | Excel Mouscron | Mouscron | Stade Le Canonnier | 10,571 |
31 | Oostende | Ostend | Versluys Arena | 8,432 |
373 | Sint-Truiden | Sint-Truiden | Stayen | 14,600 |
16 | Standard Liège | Liège | Stade Maurice Dufrasne | 30,023 |
4068 | Waasland-Beveren | Beveren | Freethiel Stadion | 8,190 |
5381 | Zulte Waregem | Waregem | Regenboogstadion | 12,500 |
Personnel and kits
[edit]Club | Manager | Captain | Kit Manufacturer | Sponsors |
---|---|---|---|---|
Anderlecht | ![]() |
![]() |
Adidas | BNP Paribas Fortis |
Antwerp | ![]() |
![]() |
Jako | Heylen Vastgoed |
Cercle Brugge | ![]() |
![]() |
Erima | ADMB |
Charleroi | ![]() |
![]() |
Kappa | Proximus |
Club Brugge | ![]() |
![]() |
Macron | Daikin |
Eupen | ![]() |
![]() |
Nike | Aspire Academy |
Excel Mouscron | ![]() |
![]() |
Erima | Star Casino |
Genk | ![]() |
![]() |
Nike | Beobank |
Gent | ![]() |
![]() |
Craft | vdk bank |
Kortrijk | ![]() |
![]() |
Jako | AGO Jobs & HR |
Lokeren | ![]() |
![]() |
Beltona | QTeam |
Oostende | ![]() |
![]() |
Joma | Willems Veranda's |
Sint-Truiden | ![]() |
![]() |
Olympic | Golden Palace |
Standard Liège | ![]() |
![]() |
New Balance | BASE |
Waasland-Beveren | ![]() |
![]() |
Kappa | Circus.be |
Zulte-Waregem | ![]() |
![]() |
Patrick | Willy Naessens Group |
Managerial changes
[edit]Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position | Replaced by | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sint-Truiden | ![]() |
Replaced | End of 2017–18 season [n 1] | Pre-season | ![]() |
21 May 2018 [1] |
Oostende | ![]() |
End of 2017–18 season | ![]() |
25 April 2018 [n 2] [2] | ||
Cercle Brugge | ![]() |
Mutual consent | End of 2017–18 season | ![]() |
6 June 2018 [3] | |
Standard Liège | ![]() |
Resigned | End of 2017–18 season | ![]() |
23 May 2018 [4] | |
Waasland-Beveren | ![]() |
Caretaker replaced | End of 2017–18 season | ![]() |
8 June 2018 [5] | |
Excel Mouscron | ![]() |
Sacked | 30 August 2018 [6] | 16th | ![]() |
2 September 2018 [7] |
Gent | ![]() |
8 October 2018 [8] | 7th | ![]() |
10 October 2018 [9] | |
Lokeren | ![]() |
27 October 2018 [10] | 15th | ![]() |
27 October 2018 [10] | |
Lokeren | ![]() |
Caretaker replaced | 2 November 2018 [11][n 3] | 16th | ![]() |
2 November 2018 [11] |
Waasland-Beveren | ![]() |
Sacked | 11 November 2018 [12] | 14th | ![]() |
17 November 2018 [13] |
Kortrijk | ![]() |
15 November 2018 [14] | 12th | ![]() |
15 November 2018 [15] | |
Anderlecht | ![]() |
16 December 2018 [16] | 4th | ![]() |
16 December 2018 [16] | |
Anderlecht | ![]() |
Caretaker replaced | 6 January 2019 [17] | 5th | ![]() |
6 January 2019 [17] |
Lokeren | ![]() |
Sacked | 20 January 2019 [18] | 16th | ![]() |
20 January 2019 [18] |
Oostende | ![]() |
Resigned | 6 March 2019 [19] | 14th | ![]() |
6 March 2019 [19] |
Anderlecht | ![]() |
Mutual consent | 16 April 2019 [20] | Regular season: 4th Championship POs: 5th |
![]() |
16 April 2019 [21] |
Oostende | ![]() |
Resigned | 29 April 2019 [22] | Regular season: 14th Europa League POs: 4th |
![]() |
29 April 2019 [22] |
Cercle Brugge | ![]() |
Mutual consent | 2 May 2019 [23] | Regular season: 13th Europa League POs: 4th |
![]() |
2 May 2019 [23] |
Regular season
[edit]League table
[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Genk | 30 | 18 | 9 | 3 | 63 | 31 | +32 | 63 | Qualification for the championship play-offs |
2 | Club Brugge | 30 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 64 | 32 | +32 | 56 | |
3 | Standard Liège | 30 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 49 | 35 | +14 | 53 | |
4 | Anderlecht | 30 | 15 | 6 | 9 | 49 | 34 | +15 | 51 | |
5 | Gent | 30 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 53 | 45 | +8 | 50 | |
6 | Antwerp | 30 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 39 | 34 | +5 | 49 | |
7 | Sint-Truiden | 30 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 47 | 36 | +11 | 47 | Qualification for the Europa League play-offs |
8 | Kortrijk | 30 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 44 | 42 | +2 | 43 | |
9 | Charleroi | 30 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 43 | 43 | 0 | 42 | |
10 | Excel Mouscron | 30 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 33 | 33 | 0 | 40 | |
11 | Zulte Waregem | 30 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 49 | 60 | −11 | 33 | |
12 | Eupen | 30 | 10 | 2 | 18 | 34 | 57 | −23 | 32 | |
13 | Cercle Brugge | 30 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 35 | 59 | −24 | 28 | |
14 | Oostende | 30 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 29 | 52 | −23 | 27 | |
15 | Waasland-Beveren | 30 | 5 | 12 | 13 | 37 | 50 | −13 | 27 | |
16 | Lokeren (R) | 30 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 28 | 53 | −25 | 20 | Relegation to First Division B |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Matches won; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away goals scored; 6) Away matches won; 7) Play-off.[24]
(R) Relegated
Results
[edit]Championship play-offs
[edit]The points obtained during the regular season were halved (and rounded up) before the start of the playoff. As a result, the teams started with the following points before the playoff: Genk 32 points, Club Brugge 28, Standard Liège 27, Anderlecht 26, Gent 25 and Antwerp 25. The points of Genk, Standard Liège, Anderlecht and Antwerp were rounded up, therefore in case of any ties on points at the end of the playoffs, the half point will be deducted for these teams.
League table
[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | GNK | CLU | STA | ANT | GNT | AND | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Genk (C) | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 8 | +11 | 52 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage | — | 3–1 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | |
2 | Club Brugge | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 11 | +8 | 50 | Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round | 3–2 | — | 4–0 | 3–2 | 3–0 | 1–0 | |
3 | Standard Liège | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 17 | 16 | +1 | 40 | Qualification for the Europa League group stage | 1–3 | 2–0 | — | 3–1 | 2–3 | 5–0 FF[a] | |
4 | Antwerp (O) | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 16 | −4 | 39 | Qualification for the Europa League play-off Final | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | — | 1–2 | 1–1 | |
5 | Gent | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 15 | −5 | 35 | Qualification for the Europa League second qualifying round[b] | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 2–1 | |
6 | Anderlecht | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 19 | −11 | 32 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | — |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points without (possible) half points added due to rounding; 3) Position obtained during the Regular season[27]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners
Notes:
- ^ Match was abandoned near the end of the first half as Anderlecht supporters had been throwing flares and smoke bombs on the pitch. At that time Standard was leading 2–0.[25] A few weeks later Anderlecht was fined 5.000 Euro and forced to play one match behind closed doors, with the match result set to a 5–0 win for Standard.[26]
- ^ After the season, 2018–19 Belgian Cup winners KV Mechelen were found guilty of match-fixing as part of the 2017–18 Belgian football fraud investigation, allowing Standard Liège to enter in the group stage instead of the third qualifying round, the fourth-placed team of the league, Royal Antwerp, entered the third qualifying round instead of the second qualifying round, and the second qualifying round berth was given to the fifth-placed team of the league, Gent. This decision is subject to appeal.
Europa League play-offs
[edit]Group A of the play-offs consist of the teams finishing in positions 7, 9, 12 and 14 during the regular season and the first and third placed team in the qualifying positions in the 2018–19 Belgian First Division B. The teams finishing in positions 8, 10, 11, 13 and 15 were joined by the second placed qualifier from the 2018–19 Belgian First Division B in group B.
Group A
[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | CHA | STR | WES | OOS | EUP | B‑W | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Charleroi | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 7 | +13 | 22 | Qualification for the Europa League play-off semi-final | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | |
2 | Sint-Truiden | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 16 | 13 | +3 | 17 | 3–1 | — | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | ||
3 | Westerlo | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 12 | +1 | 12 | 0–2 | 2–2 | — | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | ||
4 | Oostende | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 15 | −3 | 12 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 | — | 1–2 | 2–1 | ||
5 | Eupen | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 15 | −6 | 11 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 3–2 | — | 1–0 | ||
6 | Beerschot Wilrijk | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 19 | −8 | 8 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | — |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Matches won; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away goals scored; 6) Away matches won; 7) Play-off.[24]
Group B
[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | KVK | USG | W‑B | ZWA | EXM | CER | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kortrijk | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 26 | 12 | +14 | 24 | Qualification for the Europa League play-off semi-final | — | 0–1 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | |
2 | Union SG | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 24 | 14 | +10 | 20 | 2–0 | — | 5–1 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 3–1 | ||
3 | Waasland-Beveren | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 17 | 24 | −7 | 13 | 2–3 | 3–2 | — | 0–5 | 2–1 | 2–1 | ||
4 | Zulte Waregem | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 13 | 0–5 | 2–1 | 0–0 | — | 2–2 | 6–2 | ||
5 | Excel Mouscron | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 19 | 22 | −3 | 8 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 3–0 | — | 2–3 | ||
6 | Cercle Brugge | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 16 | 30 | −14 | 7 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–3 | — |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Matches won; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away goals scored; 6) Away matches won; 7) Play-off.[24]
Semi-final
[edit]The winners of both play-off groups competed in one match to play the fourth-placed team of the championship play-offs for a spot in the final. This match was played on the field of the highest ranked team in the regular competition. Charleroi advanced to the final to play for a spot in the second qualifying round of the 2019–20 UEFA Europa League.
Final
[edit]The winner of the Europa League play-off semi-final and the fourth-placed team of the championship play-offs played one match to determine the Europa League play-off winner. Antwerp qualified for the third qualifying round of the 2019–20 UEFA Europa League.
Number of teams by provinces
[edit]Number of teams | Province or region | Team(s) |
---|---|---|
5 | ![]() |
Cercle Brugge, Club Brugge, Kortrijk, Oostende and Zulte Waregem |
3 | ![]() |
Gent, Lokeren and Waasland-Beveren |
2 | ![]() |
Charleroi and Excel Mouscron |
![]() |
Eupen and Standard Liège | |
![]() |
Genk and Sint-Truiden | |
1 | ![]() |
Antwerp |
![]() |
Anderlecht |
Season statistics
[edit]Top scorers
[edit]- As of matches played on 17 May 2019.[28]
Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Zulte Waregem | 25 |
2 | ![]() |
Genk | 23 |
3 | ![]() |
Anderlecht | 16 |
![]() |
Charleroi | ||
5 | ![]() |
Sint-Truiden | 15 |
![]() |
Kortrijk | ||
7 | ![]() |
Genk | 14 |
![]() |
Zulte Waregem | ||
![]() |
Club Brugge | ||
10 | ![]() |
Genk | 13 |
Clean sheets
[edit]- As of matches played on 17 May 2019.[29]
Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Genk | 14 |
2 | ![]() |
Antwerp | 13 |
3 | ![]() |
Club Brugge | 11 |
4 | ![]() |
Excel Mouscron | 9 |
![]() |
Anderlecht | ||
![]() |
Standard Liège | ||
7 | ![]() |
Kortrijk / Gent | 8 |
8 | ![]() |
Charleroi | 7 |
9 | ![]() |
Eupen | 6 |
10 | ![]() |
Lokeren | 5 |
Notes
[edit]- ^ The announcement of De Roeck being replaced was made on 20 April 2018, together with the news he would complete the season.
- ^ Verheyen was announced as manager on 25 April 2018 but only replaced Adnan Čustović after the final match of the season.
- ^ The announcement of Viðarsson being replaced was made on 29 October 2018, but he remained in charge for the match against Anderlecht on 1 November, with Sollied taking over only the day after.
References
[edit]- ^ "Marc Brys wordt maandag voorgesteld als coach van STVV" [Marc Brys to be presented Monday as new coach of STVV] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2018-05-19. Retrieved 2018-05-20.[dead link]
- ^ "Verheyen en Van der Elst vormen nieuwe trainerstandem van KV Oostende" [Verheyen and Van der Elst to become new coaching duo of KV Oostende] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2018-04-27. Retrieved 2018-04-27.[dead link]
- ^ "Fransman Guyot moet Cercle Brugge in 1e klasse A houden" [Frenchman Guyot to keep Cercle Brugge in 1st division A] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2018-06-06. Archived from the original on 2019-12-11. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
- ^ "Officieel: Michel Preud'homme wordt opnieuw coach van Standard" [Official: Michel Preud'homme becomes manager of Standard again] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2018-05-23.
- ^ "Yannick Ferrera: "Waasland-Beveren is een zeer ambitieuze club"" [Yannick Ferrera: "Waasland-Beveren is a very ambitious club"] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2018-06-08.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Verlies tegen Eupen is druppel: Moeskroen stuurt Defays weg" [Loss against Eupen is last straw breaking camel's back: Mouscron sends Defays away] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2018-08-30.
- ^ "Duitser Bernd Storck (55) moet Moeskroen redden" [German Bernd Storck (55) to save Mouscron] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2018-09-02.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Geen verrassing: Vanderhaeghe betaalt het gelag bij AA Gent" [No surprise: Vanderhaeghe pays the piper at AA Gent] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2018-10-08.
- ^ "JESS THORUP NIEUWE COACH KAA GENT" [JESS THORUP NEW COACH KAA GENT] (in Dutch). kaagent.be. 2018-10-10.
- ^ a b "Peter Maes moet opstappen bij Sporting Lokeren" [Peter Maes has to leave Sporting Lokeren] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2018-10-28.
- ^ a b "Trond Sollied volgt Peter Maes op bij Lokeren" [Trond Sollied succeeds Peter Maes at Lokeren] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2018-10-29.
- ^ "Einde verhaal voor Ferrera bij Waasland-Beveren na verlies tegen Cercle" [Ferrera no longer Coach from Waasland-Beveren after loss against Cercle] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2018-11-11.
- ^ "Adnan Custovic moet Waasland-Beveren in eerste klasse A houden" [Adnan Custovic to keep Waasland-Beveren in first division A] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2018-11-17.
- ^ "Kortrijk zet trainer De Boeck op straat: "Zo snel mogelijk nieuwe hoofdtrainer aanstellen"" [Kortrijk sacks manager De Boeck: "Appoint new manager as soon as possible"] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2018-11-15.
- ^ "Vanderhaeghe begint aan 2e ambtstermijn bij Kortrijk: "Welcome home"" [Vanderhaeghe starts 2nd term at Kortrijk: "Welcome home"] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2018-11-15.
- ^ a b "Anderlecht zet de samenwerking met Vanhaezebrouck stop" [Anderlecht ends cooperation with Vanhaezebrouck] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2018-12-16.
- ^ a b "Anderlecht trekt met Fred Rutten als nieuwe coach op stage" [Anderlecht departs for summer camp with Fred Rutten as new coach] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2019-01-06.
- ^ a b "Lokeren ontslaat Sollied en T2 Vidarsson, De Boeck neemt over" [Lokeren sacks Sollied and T2 Vidarsson, De Boeck takes over] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2019-01-20.
- ^ a b "Verheyen stopt als coach van Oostende, Broos neemt voorlopig over" [Verheyen quits as manager of Oostende, Broos caretaker] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2019-03-06.
- ^ "Anderlecht neemt afscheid van coach Fred Rutten" [Anderlecht says goodbye to coach Fred Rutten] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2019-04-16.
- ^ "Anderlecht na vertrek van Rutten: "Belhocine is hoofdcoach"" [Anderlecht following Rutten departure: "Belhocine head coach"] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2019-04-16.
- ^ a b "Broos doet het seizoen niet uit bij KV Oostende, Van der Elst neemt over" [Broos won't finish the season at KV Oostende, Van der Elst takes over] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2019-04-29.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b "Cercle Brugge en coach Guyot zetten samenwerking met onmiddellijke ingang stop" [Cercle Brugge and coach Guyot end cooperation immediately] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2019-05-02.
- ^ a b c "Belgian First Division A 2018/2019". Soccerway. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
- ^ "Standard-Anderlecht nog voor de rust afgeblazen na paars-witte vuurpijlen" [Standard-Anderlecht abandoned before half time following purple-white flares] (in Dutch). Sporza.be. 12 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Anderlecht kent straf: match achter gesloten deuren, 5.000 euro boete en forfaitnederlaag" [Anderlecht knows punishment: match behind closed doors, 5.000 Euro fine and forfait loss] (in Dutch). Sporza.be. 30 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Reglement 2018-2019 Boek B: De koepelorganisatie KBVB en haar deelorganisaties" [General Rules 2018-2019 Book B: The overall organisation KBVB and its subsidiaries] (PDF) (in Dutch). Royal Belgian FA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
- ^ "Jupiler Pro League Top Scorer". Archived from the original on 8 May 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "Jupiler Pro League Clean Sheets". Archived from the original on 9 May 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.