The Belgium Pro League returns this week, with round No 1. Last season saw an incredible final day of the campaign, as three teams had the chance to win the title.
In the end, Royal Antwerp lifted the trophy. It was Antwerp’s second trophy of the season after picking up the Belgian Cup.
RWD Molenbeek won the Belgian Challenger Pro League last season, earning promotion to the Pro League. Molenbeek will kick off the top-flight campaign against Racing Genk. Genk lost the title on the final day of last season but were the league’s best side before the championship playoffs.
Genk and Molenbeek have not met in competitive action since 2008. The clubs did play friendlies in 2020 and 2021, splitting two matches with one win apiece.
The Blue Whites posted a record of 23W-6D-5L last season. They had a strong away record of 9W-5D-3L. Genk played in the UCL qualification rounds in midweek, drawing 1-1 with Switzerland’s Servette. RWD Molenbeek are coming off a surprise 1-0 friendly win against France’s Lyon.
OH Leuven posted a record of four wins and two draws against Sporting Charleroi in their last six head-to-head meetings. Leuven are on a four-game winning streak in matches versus Sporting Charleroi. Last season, OH Leuven outscored Sporting Charleroi 4-2.
Sporting Charleroi finished 10th last season in the regular season, just outside of the European playoff places. The Black Whites posted a record of 14W-6D-14L, 45 goals for and 52 against. Sporting Charleroi took 23 points from 17 matches last season on the road.
OH Leuven finished ninth and missed the playoffs. They finished with 48 points, the same number as Sporting Charleroi. Leuven had an away record of 6W-4D-7L, with a +3-goal difference.
Reigning champions Royal Antwerp claimed the Belgian Super Cup a week ago, with a win over Mechelen. Mark van Bommel’s team picked up three domestic trophies in just a few months. Now, the Reds start the new season seeking another title.
First up for Antwerp in the league are Cercle Brugge. Cercle finished eighth last season with 50 points from 34 games. The Green Blacks lost both regular season matches against Royal Antwerp last season by a combined score of 4-1.
Royal Antwerp are unbeaten in five straight matches versus Cercle Brugge. Antwerp finished third in the regular season last term, three points off Genk, before winning the title in the playoffs. The Reds were the second-best team at home last season, with a record of 13W-2D-2L.
KAA Gent are unbeaten in three straight matches versus KV Kortrijk in all competitions. Last season, the Buffaloes posted two wins by a combined score of 6-1. Three of the last six matches between these clubs saw three red cards.
KV Kortrijk just saw off relegation last season. They finished 14th in the 18-team league. KV Kortrijk only won eight times in the regular season.
Gent ended last term in fifth place to qualify for the European qualification playoffs. The Buffaloes missed the championship playoffs by just three points. Gent were strong at home last term, with nine wins, four draws, and four defeats. They scored 28 times and conceded 16 goals at home.