Nail biting for Zulte Waregem, Club Brugge and Cercle Brugge

In the battle for a place in the top four, AA Gent has the best credentials to compete for the title together with Genk, Union and Antwerp. The Buffalos take on the already condemned Ostend at home. For Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s troops, winning is always synonymous with qualification for the Champions’ play-offs.

Ghent was hit on Thursday evening with the elimination in the quarter-finals of the Conference League against West Ham, but against the drifting Oostende (0 out of 12) the chance of a slip-out seems small. Outgoing champion Club Brugge receives Eupen, which is still fighting for retention, and must count on a loss of points from Ghent. Because blue-black counts one victory less, it has to tolerate the East Flemings in case of equal points.

Standard also has a (you) chance at the top four, but the Rouches then have to win in Leuven and hope that Gent and Club don’t. It therefore seems likely that the people of Liège will start in the Europe play-offs. They will certainly encounter Westerlo there. The Kemphanen played a 1-1 draw at Seraing on Saturday, which was already certain of relegation.

Four more teams are eligible for the fourth and final ticket. Charleroi and Cercle Brugge (both 47 points) are in pole position but face a difficult assignment, respectively at home against leader Genk and on the field of Zulte Waregem, which is fighting for its survival in 1A. Anderlecht (46 points) and OH Leuven (45 points) can also hope for the top eight.

The Purple & White plays for their own audience against KV Mechelen, which seems to be fully focused on the cup final for weeks. It remains to be seen to what extent the sour elimination against AZ in the quarterfinals of the Conference League still plays a role for the record champion.

At the bottom, the fate of Seraing and Ostend is sealed. Eupen of Zulte Waregem will accompany them to the Challenger Pro League. The Pandas start the final day with one point more than Essevee, but face a tough move to Club Brugge.

Zulte Waregem will slip to a safe fifteenth place if it beats Cercle and Eupen doesn’t stunt a visit to Club.

At the very top of the ranking, Genk starts the final day with two points more than Union. The people of Brussels can only beat the Limburgers if they win in Kortrijk and Genk falls at Charleroi.

Just like for Ghent and Anderlecht, the question also applies to Union to what extent Thursday evening’s European exit, at home against Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League, is still in the minds of the players.