2021–22 Belgian First Division A

119th season of top-tier football in Belgium From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2021–22 Belgian Pro League (officially known as Jupiler Pro League due to sponsorship reasons) was the 119th season of top-flight football in Belgium. Club Brugge completed their first league Championship hat-trick since the 1970s by edging out long-time leaders Union Saint-Gilloise, who had led for 200 days until losing twice to Club in the title play-offs. Had Union achieved their unlikely success, they would have been the first newly promoted side to win the Belgian League, and the first to claim a top-20 ranked European league since FC Kaiserslautern's 1997–98 Bundesliga triumph in Germany.

Season2021–22
Dates23 July 2021 – 22 May 2022
ChampionsClub Brugge
RelegatedK Beerschot VA
Quick facts Season, Dates ...
Belgian First Division A
Season2021–22
Dates23 July 2021 – 22 May 2022
ChampionsClub Brugge
RelegatedK Beerschot VA
Champions LeagueClub Brugge, Union Saint-Gilloise
Europa LeagueGent
Europa Conference LeagueAnderlecht, Antwerp
Matches249
Goals733 (2.94 per match)
Top goalscorerDeniz Undav
(25 goals)
Biggest home winGent 6–1 Club Brugge
(29 August 2021)
Anderlecht 7–2 Mechelen
(12 September 2021)
Kortrijk 5–0 Zulte Waregem
(19 February 2022)
Biggest away winK Beerschot VA 0–7 RSC Anderlecht
(27 December 2021)
Highest scoringRSC Anderlecht 7–2 KV Mechelen
(12 September 2021)
Longest winning run8 matches
Club Brugge
Longest unbeaten run13 matches
Club Brugge
Longest winless run12 matches
Beerschot
Longest losing run7 matches
Beerschot
All statistics correct as of 5 December 2021.
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Team changes

On the final matchday of the previous season, Royal Excel Mouscron was overtaken by Waasland-Beveren, pushing them into a direct relegation spot and thus causing the Mouscron team to return to the second level after seven seasons. Waasland-Beveren would eventually face the same fate as a few weeks later they lost the Relegation play-off against Seraing, ending a span of nearly a decade at the top level.

The team from Seraing is a newcomer at the highest level, although a former team with the same name, R.F.C. Seraing (1904), last played at the top level 25 seasons ago and many supporters see the current Seraing as a continuation of the former. The place of Excel Mouscron was taken by 2020–21 Belgian First Division B champions and former Belgian giants Union Saint-Gilloise, returning to the top level after 48 years and already gained 11 Belgian Championship titles, mostly in the 1900s and 1930s.

Format change

Originally, as decided in 2020, the clubs agreed to reduce the number of teams again to 16 following the 2021–22 season, as due to the COVID-19 pandemic exceptionally no teams were relegated from the 2019–20 Belgian First Division A, which causing the league to temporarily expand to 18. This would mean that there would be three teams relegating from the 2021–22 Belgian First Division A with only one team promoted from the 2021–22 Belgian First Division B. However, on 14 June 2021, the clubs agreed to keep playing with 18 teams at the highest level up to (and including) the 2022–23 season, meaning that the 2021–22 Belgian First Division would continue the format of the previous season, with only one team relegating and the penultimate team playing a play-off match against the runner-up of the 2021–22 Belgian First Division B to avoid relegation. The title and Europa League playoffs remain shortened, with only the top four teams playing for the title and number 5 through 8 playing the Europa League playoffs. For the teams finishing in positions 9 through 16, the season ends immediately following the regular season. The request to keep playing with 18 teams at the highest level mainly came from the smaller teams which were already struggling following the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The bigger clubs agreed to continue the current format but demanded that U23 teams be permanently added to the lower leagues. As such, the intention is that from the 2022–23 season on, there will be 4 U23 teams playing added to each of the second, third and fourth level of Belgian football, with the final standings of the 2021–22 U23 league to determine which team will start at which level.[1]

Title run-in

Returning to top-flight football after 48 years away, Union Saint-Gilloise earned a 3–1 opening-day win away to Brussels' traditional giants Anderlecht,[2] Union hosted reigning champions Club Brugge on 1 August 2021 in their first home game in the top division since 1973, being edged out 1–0 through a late Eduard Sobol winner.

In a difficult January run against all of the previous season's top four, Union beat Anderlecht, Genk and Royal Antwerp, drawing 0–0 away to Club Brugge. By the end of the regular season, Union were top on 77 points, five ahead of Club Brugge, with Antwerp and Anderlecht also qualifying for the six rounds of play-offs, where the quartet would bring forward half of the regular season points into the play-offs. Hence, Union would resume on 39, Club 36, with Anderlecht and Antwerp both on 32.[2]

Union started the play-offs strongly, beating Anderlecht 3–1 and thus becoming the first club ever to inflict three defeats on the Mauves in the same league season. A 0–0 draw away to Antwerp saw the lead over Club Brugge maintained at three points.

The title race swung in the direction of Bruges in back-to-back games between Union and Club, with the champions earning a tight 2–0 win in Brussels to draw level on points,[3] with Club going top under the "half-points" rule, as Union had needed their tally from the regular season rounded-up. Club Brugge won the midweek return 1–0 at the Jan Breydel through an own goal from goalkeeper Anthony Moris to take a three-point lead with two games to go.[4][5]

Club Brugge clinched the league crown in their next (and penultimate) game against Royal Antwerp,[6][7] despite Union beating Anderlecht for the fourth time in the season 2–0 at Lotto Park.[8][9] Eventually, Club finished four points clear of Union SG, 50 points compared to USG's 46, historically qualifying Union for the UEFA Champions League qualifiers. It was the completion of a three-in-a-row for Club Brugge, whose coach Alfred Schreuder would leave within 48 hours of the title success for Ajax.

Union had been top for 200 days.

League glory for Union would have seen them become the first newly promoted side to win a top-20 European national league championship at the first attempt since Kaiserslautern's 1998 Bundesliga success.[10][11]

Union's runners-up spot qualified them for the UEFA Champions League qualifiers, sending them into European football for the first time since 1964–65, and their first UEFA competition after featuring in five editions of the Fairs Cup in the 1950s and 60s.[12]

Teams

Stadiums and locations

Locations of the 2021–22 Belgian First Division A teams
More information Matricule, Club ...
Matricule Club Location Venue Capacity
35 Anderlecht Anderlecht, Brussels Constant Vanden Stock Stadium 21,500
1 Antwerp Antwerp Bosuilstadion 16,144
13 Beerschot Antwerp Olympic Stadium 12,771
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 Kehrwegstadion 8,363
322 Genk Genk Luminus Arena 24,956
7 Gent Ghent Ghelamco Arena 20,000
19 Kortrijk Kortrijk Guldensporen Stadion 9,399
25 Mechelen Mechelen AFAS-stadion Achter de Kazerne 16,700
31 Oostende Ostend Versluys Arena 8,432
18 Oud-Heverlee Leuven Leuven Den Dreef 10,000
167 Seraing Seraing Stade du Pairay 8,207
373 Sint-Truiden Sint-Truiden Stayen 14,600
16 Standard Liège Liège Stade Maurice Dufrasne 30,023
10 Union SG Saint-Gilles, Brussels Stade Joseph Marien 8,000
5381 Zulte Waregem Waregem Regenboogstadion 12,500
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Number of teams by provinces

More information Number of teams, Province or region ...
Number of teams Province or region Team(s)
5 West FlandersCercle Brugge, Club Brugge, Kortrijk, Oostende and Zulte Waregem
3 Antwerp

Antwerp, Beerschot and Mechelen

LiègeEupen, Seraing and Standard Liège
2 BrusselsAnderlecht and Union SG
Limburg

Genk and Sint-Truiden

1 East FlandersGent
Flemish BrabantOud-Heverlee Leuven
HainautCharleroi
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Personnel and kits

More information Club, Manager ...
Club Manager Kit Manufacturer Sponsors
Anderlecht Belgium Vincent Kompany Joma DVV Insurance (home) & Candriam (away)
Antwerp Denmark Brian Priske Jako Ghelamco
Beerschot Belgium Greg Vanderidt (caretaker) [n 1] XIII[n 2] Yelo Rent a Car
Cercle Brugge Austria Dominik Thalhammer [n 3] Kappa Napoleon Games
Charleroi Belgium Edward Still Kappa Unibet
Club Brugge Netherlands Alfred Schreuder [n 4] Macron Unibet
Eupen Australia Michael Valkanis [n 5] Adidas Aspire Academy
Genk Germany Bernd Storck [n 6] Nike Beobank
Gent Belgium Hein Vanhaezebrouck Craft VDK Bank
Kortrijk France Karim Belhocine [n 7] Jako AGO Jobs & HR
Mechelen Belgium Wouter Vrancken Erreà Telenet
OH Leuven Belgium Marc Brys Adidas King Power
Oostende Belgium Yves Vanderhaeghe [n 8] Kipsta Casino Oostend
Seraing France Jean-Louis Garcia [n 9] Kappa Star Casino
Sint-Truiden Germany Bernd Hollerbach Macron Nishitan Clinic
Standard Liège Slovenia Luka Elsner [n 10] Adidas VOO
Union SG Belgium Felice Mazzù Le Coq Sportif Loterie Nationale
Zulte-Waregem Belgium Davy De fauw & Belgium Timmy Simons [n 11] Patrick Napoleon Games
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Managerial changes

More information Team, Outgoing manager ...
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position Replaced by Date of appointment
Charleroi France Karim Belhocine Sacked[13] End of 2020–21 season [n 12] Pre-season Belgium Edward Still 16 May 2021[14]
Eupen Spain Beñat San José Left[15] Germany Stefan Krämer 9 June 2021[16]
Beerschot Belgium Will Still Replaced[17] Belgium Peter Maes 20 May 2021[17]
Seraing Belgium Emilio Ferrera Left for coaching position at Gent[18][19] Spain Jordi Condom 28 May 2021[20]
Sint-Truiden Belgium Peter Maes Replaced by Beerschot[17] Germany Bernd Hollerbach 5 June 2021[21]
Antwerp Belgium Franky Vercauteren Replaced by Priske[22] Denmark Brian Priske 29 May 2021[22]
Beerschot Belgium Peter Maes Sacked[23] 15 September 2021 18th Belgium Marc Noë (caretaker) 15 September 2021[23]
Belgium Marc Noë Caretaker replaced[24] 21 September 2021 18th Argentina Javier Torrente 21 September 2021[24]
Standard Liège Senegal Mbaye Leye Sacked[25] 5 October 2021 12th Slovenia Luka Elsner 7 October 2021[26]
Kortrijk Slovenia Luka Elsner Signed for Standard Liège[26] 7 October 2021 8th France Karim Belhocine 12 October 2021[27]
Cercle Brugge Belgium Yves Vanderhaeghe Sacked[28] 28 November 2021 17th Austria Dominik Thalhammer 28 November 2021[29]
Genk Netherlands John van den Brom Sacked[30] 6 December 2021 8th Germany Bernd Storck 7 December 2021[31]
Zulte Waregem Belgium Francky Dury Sacked[32] 17 December 2021 17th Belgium Davy De fauw & Belgium Timmy Simons 17 December 2021[32]
Seraing Spain Jordi Condom Mutual consent[33] 27 December 2021 17th France Jean-Louis Garcia 3 January 2022[34]
Club Brugge Belgium Philippe Clement Signed for France Monaco[35] 3 January 2022 2nd Netherlands Alfred Schreuder 3 January 2022[36]
Oostende Germany Alexander Blessin Signed for Italy Genoa[37] 19 January 2022 15th Germany Markus Pflanz (caretaker) 19 January 2022[37]
Beerschot Argentina Javier Torrente Sacked[38] 7 February 2022 18th Belgium Greg Vanderidt (caretaker) 7 February 2022[38]
Oostende Germany Markus Pflanz Caretaker replaced[39] 11 February 2022 14th Belgium Yves Vanderhaeghe 11 February 2022[39]
Eupen Germany Stefan Krämer Sacked[40] 16 February 2022 15th Australia Michael Valkanis 16 February 2022[40]
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Regular season

League table

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Union SG 34 24 5 5 78 27 +51 77 Qualification for the Europa Conference League and Play-offs I[a]
2 Club Brugge (C) 34 21 9 4 72 37 +35 72 Qualification for the Play-offs I
3 Anderlecht 34 18 10 6 72 36 +36 64
4 Antwerp 34 19 6 9 55 38 +17 63
5 Gent 34 18 8 8 56 30 +26 62 Qualification for the Play-offs II
6 Charleroi 34 15 9 10 55 46 +9 54
7 Mechelen 34 15 7 12 57 61 −4 52
8 Genk 34 15 6 13 66 47 +19 51
9 Sint-Truiden 34 15 6 13 42 40 +2 51
10 Cercle Brugge 34 12 9 13 49 46 +3 45
11 OH Leuven 34 10 11 13 47 58 −11 41
12 Oostende 34 10 7 17 34 61 −27 37
13 Kortrijk 34 9 10 15 43 48 −5 37
14 Standard Liège 34 9 9 16 32 51 −19 36
15 Eupen 34 8 8 18 37 61 −24 32
16 Zulte Waregem 34 8 8 18 42 69 −27 32
17 Seraing (O) 34 8 4 22 30 68 −38 28 Qualification for the Relegation play-off
18 Beerschot (R) 34 4 4 26 33 76 −43 16 Relegation to First Division B
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Source: Jupiler Pro League (in Dutch), Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Matches won; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away matches won; 6) Away goal difference; 7) Away goals scored; 8) Play-off.[41]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. [a]
    The regular season winners will qualify for the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League if they do not qualify for the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League in the playoffs.

Positions by round

The table lists the positions of teams after completion of each round. However, several matches were not completed in the intended timeframe, resulting in the table below showing teams with different number of matches played as from matchday 19:

  • The match between Standard Liège and Beerschot of matchday 19 was postponed due to a strike by the police. With the match being cancelled less than three hours prior to the match, Beerschot requested to be given a 0–3 win by forfeit; however the ruling was not in their favour.[42]
  • The match between Kortrijk and Antwerp of matchday 21 was postponed due to a large number of players of Antwerp testing positive for COVID-19 one day prior to the match.[43] The match was played between matchdays 25 and 26.
  • With Genk missing nine players in January 2022 due to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and the CONMEBOL 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the club was allowed to shift two of its matches. The match between Genk and Mechelen of matchday 24 was shifted forward and was played between matchdays 22 and 23, while the match between Oud-Heverlee Leuven and Genk of matchday 25 was moved backwards to be played between matchdays 26 and 27[44]
  • The match between Zulte Waregem and Oostende of matchday 22 was postponed due to a large number of players of Zulte Waregem testing positive for COVID-19 two days prior to the match.[45]
  • On 15 January 2022, KV Mechelen decided not to send a team to their away match at OH Leuven, as part of matchday 22. The club "wanted to make a statement", as their earlier request to have the match postponed was declined due to their third goalkeeper not being considered in the number of players testing positive, as he was still under the age of 21.[46] Initially, the disciplinary committee ordered the match to be replayed, as it rules that the rule based on age was discriminatory and hence not legal, eventually however the Belgian Court for Sports Arbitration ruled in favour of OH Leuven on 9 March, awarding them a 5–0 forfeit win.
  • Finally, the match between Standard Liège and Charleroi of matchday 17 was abandoned in minute 87 due to home supporter violence, while Charleroi was leading 0–3. Due to the combination of it being almost completed, Charleroi leading strongly and Standard supporters being the cause of the problem, main media outlets were reporting the result as final, already including three points for Charleroi [47] Only on 13 January 2022 it was ruled that the match would not be finished or replayed and that the result would stand.[47]
More information Team ╲ Round, Union SG ...
Team ╲ Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334
Union SG2711412253111111111111111111111111
Club Brugge7463231114222333322222222332222222
Anderlecht1617963127567866866554534444444443543
Antwerp13181311415121032433222233343333223334334
Gent14141712141115161314129101077666665556655555455
Charleroi124897481211975555445456665567777676
Mechelen4814151013161296554444777877797776666767
Genk91310564534561076810811999891010888888888
Sint-Truiden561113161491189111213111011111213151313111111121110101010999
Cercle Brugge6571012161314161717171717171717161214111010789109999101010
OH Leuven1112161717171717171616151414141314141513101113131411912121211111111
Oostende18103268119101071111121315121314111415151513141413131414141412
Kortrijk3129558678108991191098789889101211111112121213
Standard Liège12312736371112131312131212131011121514141212131314141313131314
Eupen811541264213487989810101212121415151515161516151515
Zulte Waregem1016814131014151515151415151616161717161616161616161616151615161616
Seraing179151611910131413141616161514151516171717171717171717171717171717
Beerschot15151818181818181818181818181818181818181818181818181818181818181818
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Source: worldfootball.net

Results

More information Home \ Away, USG ...
Home \ Away USG CLU AND ANT GNT CHA KVM GNK STR CER OHL OOS KVK STA EUP ZWA SER BEE
Union SG — 0–1 1–0 1–2 0–0 4–0 2–0 2–1 0–1 3–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 4–0 0–0 2–1 4–2 5–0[a]
Club Brugge 0–0 — 2–2 4–1 1–2 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–0 2–0 2–2 2–2 3–0 3–2 3–2
Anderlecht 1–3 1–1 — 2–1 1–1 4–0 7–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–2 3–0 1–1 1–1 4–1 3–2 3–0 4–2
Antwerp 0–2 1–1 2–0 — 1–0 3–0 1–2 4–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 3–0 0–1 2–3 4–2 1–0 2–1 2–1
Gent 0–2 6–1 1–0 0–1 — 2–3 2–0 1–0 2–1 2–1 5–0 1–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–1 4–0 2–2
Charleroi 0–3 0–1 1–3 1–1 0–0 — 0–2 2–0 0–0 5–0 0–3 1–0 1–1 0–0 3–0 3–0 2–0 5–2
Mechelen 3–1 2–1 0–1 3–2 4–3 2–2 — 1–1 0–1 2–2 2–0 3–0 3–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–0 3–2
Genk 1–1 2–3 1–0 1–1 0–3 4–2 4–1 — 0–1 1–1 4–0 3–4 2–0 2–0 5–0 2–0 3–0 4–1
Sint-Truiden 1–2 1–2 2–2 2–1 2–1 0–1 1–1 1–2 — 1–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 3–0 2–0 1–3 3–1 3–2
Cercle Brugge 0–3 2–0 1–2 0–1 2–2 1–2 3–1 2–2 0–1 — 1–1 0–1 2–0 1–1 1–2 3–1 2–0 2–0
OH Leuven 1–4 1–4 0–0 0–1 0–1 1–1 5–0[b] 2–1 4–1 3–2 — 1–0 2–1 2–1 1–4 1–1 1–3 0–0
Oostende 1–7 1–3 2–2 1–2 1–0 0–3 2–4 0–4 0–0 2–1 1–3 — 0–2 1–0 2–1 0–2 2–2 3–1
Kortrijk 2–3 0–1 2–3 0–2 1–0 2–2 2–2 1–2 1–3 0–2 2–1 1–0 — 0–1 1–1 5–0 2–0 1–1
Standard Liège 1–3 2–2 0–1 2–5 0–1 0–3 1–2 1–1 1–2 1–1 2–2 1–0 1–1 — 1–0 0–1 0–1 1–0
Eupen 2–3 1–3 1–1 0–1 0–1 0–4 1–1 3–2 2–1 0–2 3–1 0–2 2–2 0–2 — 1–1 1–2 1–0
Zulte Waregem 0–2 0–4 1–2 2–1 1–2 2–2 3–2 2–6 0–2 2–4 1–1 0–0 2–2 1–2 3–0 — 1–0 2–0
Seraing 0–4[c] 0–5 0–5 0–1 0–0 1–3 1–0 0–2 2–0 2–1 1–1 2–3 0–2 0–1 0–0 5–1 — 2–1
Beerschot 0–3 1–3 0–7 0–1 0–2 2–3 0–1 2–0 0–1 0–1 3–1 0–2 2–1 0–1 0–3 3–3 3–0 —
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Source: Jupiler Pro League (in Dutch), Soccerway
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
  1. [a]
    The match between Union SG and Beerschot was stopped with 82 minutes played at 0–0, after supporters from the away team were throwing objects (including pyrotechnics) on the pitch and some of them had climbed over the barriers to start fighting with home supporters.[48] On 16 April, the disciplinary board of professional football rules that Union SG was to win the match by a forfeit score of 5–0, as it was obvious that fans of the away team were responsible for the irregularities leading to the prematurely ended match.[49]
  2. [b]
    KV Mechelen decided not to send a team to their away match at OH Leuven and thus the match was not played. The club "wanted to make a statement" as their earlier request to have the match postponed was declined due to their third goalkeeper not being considered in the number of players testing positive, as he was still under the age of 21. Mechelen did not agree and simply decided not to show up. Since these were the agreed upon rules (by all clubs), which Mechelen did not adhere to, the rules stipulate that Mechelen would lose the match by a forfeit score of 5–0.[46] The disciplinary board for professional football however decided early February 2022 that the rule violated the Social equality rules due to discriminating on age, ordering the match to be replayed.[50] OH Leuven appealed this decision however with the Belgian Arbitrage Court for Sports, which in the end ruled in its favour, awarding the team a 5–0 forfeit win.[51]
  3. [c]
    Originally started on 15 January 2022, the match was stopped at half-time with Union SG leading 0–2, due to a very dense fog over the field reducing visibility. The second half was played a few days later, on 18 January 2022.[52]

Play-offs

Play-off I

Points obtained during the regular season were halved (and rounded up) before the start of the playoff. Union SG started with 39 points, Club Brugge 36 points, Anderlecht and Antwerp 32 points each. As the points of Union SG and Antwerp were rounded up, in case of ties they would always be ranked below the team (or teams) they are tied with. The deciding factor after that would be finishing position in the regular season.

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation CLU USG AND ANT
1 Club Brugge (C) 6 4 2 0 8 2 +6 50 Qualification for the Champions League group stage — 1–0 1–1 1–0
2 Union SG 6 2 1 3 5 5 0 46 Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round 0–2 — 3–1 0–1
3 Anderlecht 6 2 2 2 8 7 +1 40 Qualification for the Europa Conference League third qualifying round 0–0 0–2 — 2–1
4 Antwerp 6 1 1 4 3 10 −7 36 Qualification for the Europa Conference League second qualifying round 1–3 0–0 0–4 —
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Source: Jupiler Pro League (in Dutch), Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points without (possible) half points added due to rounding; 3) Regular season finishing position.[53]
(C) Champions

Play-off II

Points obtained during the regular season were halved (and rounded up) before the start of the playoff. Gent started with 31 points, Charleroi with 27 points, and both Mechelen and Genk with 26 points each. The points of Genk were rounded up, and hence in case of ties they will always be ranked below the team (or teams) they are tied with.

The winner of Play-Off II was originally scheduled to play the fourth-placed team of Play-Off I to determine which team would qualify for the second qualifying round of the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League. However, since Gent won both the 2021–22 Belgian Cup (thus already qualifying for the 2022–23 UEFA Europa League) and Play-off II, the fourth-placed team of Play-Off I qualified automatically for the Europa Conference League and the European play-off was not contested.

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation GNT GNK CHA MEC
1 Gent 6 4 0 2 9 5 +4 43 Qualification for the Europa League play-off round[a] — 0–1 1–2 1–0
2 Genk 6 3 2 1 10 8 +2 37 0–2 — 3–2 4–2
3 Charleroi 6 2 1 3 10 12 −2 34 1–3 2–2 — 3–2
4 Mechelen 6 1 1 4 6 10 −4 30 1–2 0–0 1–0 —
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Source: Jupiler Pro League (in Dutch), Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points without (possible) half points added due to rounding; 3) Regular season finishing position.[54]
Notes:
  1. [a]
    Gent qualified for the Europa League play-off round as the 2021–22 Belgian Cup winners.

Promotion-Relegation play-off

The team finishing in 17th place competes in a two-legged match with the runner-up of the 2021–22 Belgian First Division B, with the aggregate winner to play in the 2022–23 Belgian First Division A, while the losing team will take part in the 2022–23 Belgian First Division B.

On 2 April 2021, following a draw away to Oostende, Seraing was certain of finishing 17th and forced to play the relegation play-off against a team from the Belgian First Division B. Seraing had won promotion last season by winning the 2020–21 Promotion-Relegation play-off and will now be looking to avoid going down again the same way. One day later in the 2021–22 Belgian First Division B, RWDM lost their match away to Deinze, meaning they would finish second and thus play Seraing for promotion.

More information RWD Molenbeek, 0–1 ...
RWD Molenbeek0–1Seraing
Report
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Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Bram Van Driessche
More information Seraing, 0–0 ...
Seraing0–0RWD Molenbeek
Report
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Attendance: 7,200

Seraing won 1–0 on aggregate
Seraing remains in Belgian First Division A. RWD Molenbeek remains in Belgian First Division B.

Season statistics

As of 10 April 2022

Top scorers and assists

The official statistics were calculated after the play-offs.[55]

Awards

More information Award, Winner ...
Award[55] Winner Club
Player of the Year Germany Deniz Undav Union SG
Manager of the Year Belgium Felice Mazzù Union SG
Youngster of the Year Belgium Charles De Ketelaere Club Brugge
Referee of the Year Belgium Erik Lambrechts
Goal of the Year Japan Junya Ito Genk
Lifetime Achievement Award Belgium Pierre Denier Genk
Football & Community Award Genk & Waasland-Beveren
Groundsmen Award OH Leuven
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Notes

  1. [1]
    Belgium Peter Maes was the manager for matchdays 1 through 7, Belgium Marc Noë took the honours as caretaker manager on matchday 8, and Argentina Javier Torrente was the manager for matchdays 9 until 26.
  2. [2]
    An apparel brand made by club.
  3. [3]
    Belgium Yves Vanderhaeghe was the manager for matchdays 1 through 16.
  4. [4]
    Belgium Philippe Clement was the manager for matchdays 1 through 21.
  5. [5]
    Germany Stefan Krämer was the manager for matchdays 1 through 27.
  6. [6]
    Netherlands John van den Brom was the manager for matchdays 1 through 17.
  7. [7]
    Slovenia Luka Elsner was the manager for matchdays 1 through 10 before moving to Standard Liège.
  8. [8]
    Germany Alexander Blessin was the manager for matchdays 1 through 21 and Germany Markus Pflanz was caretaker manager for matchdays 22 through 26.
  9. [9]
    Spain Jordi Condom was the manager for matchdays 1 through 21.
  10. [10]
    Senegal Mbaye Leye was the manager for matchdays 1 through 10.
  11. [11]
    Belgium Francky Dury was the manager for matchdays 1 through 19.
  12. [12]
    Belhocine and Charleroi announced their separation on 20 April 2021, but Belhocine would remain in charge for the remaining training sessions. Charleroi had no more matches left as it had not qualified for any of the play-offs and hence was in no rush to appoint a new manager.

References

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