Union Saint-Gilloise secured its European ticket this weekend during the 28th round of the Belgian Football Championship thanks to their 0-2 victory over OH Leuven on Saturday.
With the latest victory, the Brussels club are now assured of a first-place finish in the Jupiler League’s regular season (before the top six clubs enter the play-offs), guaranteeing them a place in one of the European competitions next season.
Alexander Blessin’s squad, still competing in three competitions, are top of the table with 68 points, 8 clear of second-placed Anderlecht, who comfortably secured a 1-0 win against Eupen on Sunday.
In the aftermath of their defeat to Anderlecht and their semi-final cup elimination by Union, Club Brugge bounced back with a 0-3 win at Genk, and are now third with 48 points, level with Antwerp, who beat Saint-Truiden 3-0.
Closely following the lead duo, Cercle de Bruges and Genk, each with 43 points, dream of the top 6 – a feat also aspired to by Gent (43 points) and Mechelen (42).
Wallonia’s clubs enjoyed winning returns this weekend, creating some breathing space in the bottom half of the league. After two defeats, Standard Liege claimed a 4-2 win over a 10-man Gent team, and Charleroi broke their rut by taking three points from Westerlo (0-1).
Standard Liege, 10th with 31 points, and Charleroi, who have 28 points, sit comfortably above the relegation zone.
This is not the case for OHL (26 points), RWD Molenbeek (23 points) who suffered a 3-2 defeat against Kortrijk (21 points), and Eupen (21 points). Eupen and Kortrijk, unable to secure a 12th place, are certain to play the ‘playdowns’ – the play-offs to avoid relegation.
