JPL: Mission Playoffs

The most exciting part of the Pro League has arrived, it’s Playoffs time. Between the fight for the Champions Playoffs title, the race for the Conference League in the Europe Playoffs and the fight to stay in the Relegation Playoffs, the next 10 matchdays of the championship promise to be thrilling and we are starting very strong with this first matchday.

A Topper in the Champions Playoffs

What better way to kick it off than a duel at the top between Club Brugge and Sporting Anderlecht? The Mauves must win at Jan Breydel to get back on the leaderboard with Brugge and not risk already losing out on the title. For his return to lead the team, Besnik Hasi will already face a big challenge as the Mauves have only won once at Jan Breydel since 2018.

Genk will go up against the bottom of the top 6: KAA Gent. With only a 4-point lead over the Club, the team from Limburg must beat the Buffalos if they don’t want to see their lead wiped out already. Against them, Ghent will have nothing to lose, but everything to gain on Limburgish soil.

Antwerp are in the same boat as they are travelling to Union Saint-Gilloise on Saturday. Matricule 1 could really shake things up in these Champions Playoffs. Historically a difficult team to play with, their first mission will be to prevent the Unionists from pulling it off at the weekend alongside the Topper which will take place on Sunday.

Standard in Europe?

In the Europe Playoffs, Standard de Liège will start this first matchday as the favorite and leader, with 20 points... but with 4 teams with 19 points on their heels. One of them is KV Mechelen who will travel to Sclessin this Saturday. It’s time to see if Standard are taking these Playoffs seriously or not. It must be said that historically, the Rouches have never stood out in the Europe Playoffs. Constantly rotating the workforce, already preparing the next version. However, this year, Ivan Leko has assured us that the goal is to win every match!

The other favorite, Sporting de Charleroi, will travel to Leuven to take on OHL and the Carolos will definitely be happy to take first place from Liège.

Beerschot condemned against a trio willing to give it their all

The Relegation Playoffs are looking like they will be difficult for Beerschot, who are 14 points behind Cercle Brugge, who are provisionally staying. With a maximum total of 18 points up for grabs during the 6 matchdays, it’s hard to see the team from Antwerp getting by...

Which leaves us with Sint-Truiden with 31 points as well as KV Kortrijk with 26 points. This weekend, STVV will travel to Beerschot and Mazzu’s men must win if they want to put pressure on Cercle and stay in division 1A. On the other side, KV Kortrijk will receive Cercle and could turn everything on its head if they win.

Whether in the Champions, Europe or the Relegation Playoffs, there will be suspense and we are looking forward to the first clashes.

That’s why at Circus Sport, we have a free quiz with BetXtra up for grabs every week and even more for the whole duration of these Playoffs.