The “Champions’ PO”
It is the clubs ranked from 1st to 4th place at the end of the classic phase of the championship that participate. Points were halved and rounded up in case of a half point.
Ranking :
1. Union SG : 39 points*
(TBC: Their game against Beerschot was stopped because of Beerchot fans when the result was still 0-0. Union should get the win on green carpet.)
2. FC Bruges : 36 points
3. Anderlecht : 32 points
4. Antwerp : 32 points*
*round up
All teams compete back and forth.
Leader at the end of the 34 days of the regular phase, the Union Saint-Gilloise is, whatever happens, guaranteed to benefit from a European ticket.
Les « Europe PO »
This concerns here all the clubs ranked from 5th to 8th place at the end of the 34 days of the regular phase of the championship. Like PO Champions, the points here are also halved and rounded up.
Ranking :
1. La Gantoise: 31 points
2. Sporting Charleroi : 27 points
3. Mechelen: 26 points
4. KRC Genk: 26 points *
*round up
The winner of the Europe play-offs will play a match giving the right to the last European ticket available. And this, against the 4th of the final classification of Champions PO.
How are the different European tickets distributed?
As a reminder, Belgium has a total of 5 tickets giving access to the European Cup, which are distributed as follows:
The winner of the Champions’ play-offs is crowned champion and will play in the Champions League
The 2nd of the Champions’ play-offs will play in the third qualifying round of the Champions League
The 3rd of the Champions’ play-offs will play the last qualifying round of the Conference League
The winner of the final match between the 4th of the Champions’ play-offs and the winner of the Europe play-offs will play the second qualifying round of the Conference League
Finally, the winner of the Belgian Cup will play the last qualifying round of the Europa League
Be careful, there are some subtleties:
If the Union finishes 4th of the PO Champions, it is the 3rd who will face the winner of the Europe PO.
And then, you still have to take into account the result of the Belgian Cup final (La Gantoise faces Anderlecht on April 18). As explained by the Pro League:
1.If the winner of the Cup participates in the Champions’ play-offs and finishes in 1st or 2nd place, the final match between the 4th of the Champions’ play-offs and the winner of the European play-offs for the second ticket of the Europa Conference League will not take place. European tickets would be distributed as follows:
The champion (group stage) and the runner-up (third preliminary round) qualify for the Champions League.
The qualification ticket for the Europa League for the winner of the Cup goes to the 3rd of the Champions’ play-offs.
The 4th in the Champions’ play-offs and the 5th (winner of the Europe play-offs) qualify for the Europa Conference League.
2.
If the winner of the Cup participates in the Champions’ play-offs and finishes in 3rd or 4th place, the final match will not be played either. The Cup winner keeps his ticket for the last qualifying round of the Europa League. The other club classified in 3rd or 4th place in the Champions’ play-offs obtains the best ticket for the Europa Conference League. The other ticket for the Europa Conference League ultimately goes to the winner of the Europe play-offs.
3.
If the winner of the Cup plays in the Europe play-offs and wins them, no final match will take place. The Cup winner keeps his ticket for the last qualifying round of the Europa League. The 4th in the Champions’ play-offs qualifies directly for the 2nd preliminary round of the Europa Conference League.
4.
If the Cup winner does not win the Europe play-offs, nothing changes in the distribution of European tickets. The first two teams in the Champions’ play-offs get a ticket to the Champions League. The club ranked in 3rd place wins a ticket for the Europa Conference League. The Cup winner keeps his ticket for the Europa League. The 4th of the Champions’ play-offs and the winner of the Europe play-offs will face each other for the last ticket of the Europa Conference League.
Descent and promotion:
As a reminder, the Beerschot, the bottom of the D1A, tumbles in D1B and is replaced by Westerlo, authoritarian champion of the D1B.
It remains to be seen who from Séraing or RWDM will play in the elite next season. The two teams will face each other in the play-offs (going to the Edmond Machtens Stadium on April 23 or 24 and returning to Pairay a week later). The Steelworkers will participate for the second time in a row in these play-offs. They won last year against Waasland-Beveren.