2017–18 Belgian First Division B

The 2017–18 season of the Belgian First Division B began in August 2017 and ended in April 2018. It was the second season of the First Division B following a change in league format from the old Belgian Second Division. The fixtures were announced near the end of June 2017. Cercle Brugge won the title and promotion on 10 March 2018. Although Tubize lost the relegation play-offs and therefore would have been relegated, they were saved as Lierse went bankrupt.

Belgian First Division B
Season2017–18
ChampionsCercle Brugge
PromotedCercle Brugge
RelegatedLierse
Top goalscorerYannick Aguemon, Esteban Casagolda and Florent Stevance (10 goals each)
Biggest home winOH Leuven vs Cercle Brugge, 7–1
KVC Westerlo vs Lierse SK, 6-0
Biggest away winRoeselare vs Beerschot Wilrijk, 0–4
Highest scoringOH Leuven vs Cercle Brugge, 7–1

Team changes

In

Out
  • Antwerp won the promotion play-offs against Roeselare and was thus promoted.
  • Lommel United was relegated after they finished last in the relegation play-offs.

Team information

Stadiums and locations
Locations of the 2017–18 Belgian First Division B teams
Matricule Club City First season of
current spell at
second level		 Coming from 2016-17 result Stadium Capacity
155 FCO Beerschot Wilrijk Antwerp 2017–18 Belgian First Amateur Division 1st (D3) Olympic Stadium 12,771
12 Cercle Brugge K.S.V. Bruges 2015–16 Belgian Pro League 7th (D2) Jan Breydel Stadium 29,945
6142 Oud-Heverlee Leuven Leuven 2016–17 Belgian Pro League 6th (D2) Den Dreef 10,000
30 Lierse S.K. Lier 2015–16 Belgian Pro League 1st (D2) Herman Vanderpoortenstadion 14,538
2024 K.V.C. Westerlo Westerlo 2017–18 Belgian First Division A 16th (D1A) Het Kuipje 8,035
134 K.S.V. Roeselare Roeselare 2010–11 Belgian Pro League 2nd (D2) Schiervelde Stadion 9,075
5632 A.F.C. Tubize Tubize 2009–10 Belgian Pro League 5th (D2) Stade Leburton 9,000
10 R. Union Saint-Gilloise Saint-Gilles, Brussels 2015–16 Belgian Third Division 4th (D2) King Baudouin Stadium[nb 1] 50,122

Personnel and kits
Club Manager Captain Kit Manufacturer Sponsors
Beerschot Wilrijk Marc Brys Tom Pietermaat Joma DCA
Cercle Brugge Franky Vercauteren Benjamin Lambot Acerbis ADMB
OH Leuven Nigel Pearson Dimitri Daeseleire Vermarc King Power
Lierse David Colpaert Frédéric Frans Jako Wadi Degla
Roeselare Jordi Condom Raphaël Lecomte Joma Euro Shop
Tubize Philippe Thys Quentin Laurent Kappa No shirt sponsor
Union SG Marc Grosjean Charles Morren Patrick Culture et Formation
Westerlo Bob Peeters Benjamin De Ceulaer Saller Soudal

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position Replaced by Date of appointment
Westerlo Jacky Mathijssen Mutual consent 21 June 2017 [1] Pre-season Vedran Pelić 21 June 2017 [1]
Roeselare Arnauld Mercier Sacked 12 September 2017 [2] 5th Dennis van Wijk 28 September 2017 [3]
OH Leuven Dennis van Wijk Replaced 22 September 2017 [4] 4th Nigel Pearson 22 September 2017 [4]
Lierse Frederik Vanderbiest Sacked 6 October 2017 [5] 7th William Still 11 October 2017 [6]
Cercle Brugge José Riga Sacked 16 October 2017 [7] 3rd Franky Vercauteren 16 October 2017 [8]
Tubize Sadio Demba Sacked 13 November 2017 [9] Closing tournament: 6th
Overall: 8th		 Philippe Thys 13 November 2017 [9]
Lierse William Still Did not possess correct UEFA diploma to remain manager 2 December 2017 [10] Closing tournament: 1st
Overall: 3rd		 David Colpaert 2 December 2017 [10]
Westerlo Vedran Pelić Replaced 5 December 2017 [11] Closing tournament: 8th
Overall: 7th		 Bob Peeters 5 December 2017 [11]
Roeselare Dennis van Wijk Sacked 19 January 2018 [12] Closing tournament: 7th
Overall: 5th		 Jordi Condom 25 January 2018 [13]

League table

Opening tournament
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification B-W OHL CER ROE LIE USG WES TUB
1 Beerschot Wilrijk 14 8 5 1 29 10 +19 29 Qualification to Promotion play-offs — 2–2 0–3 5–0 4–0 3–0 2–2 1–0
2 OH Leuven 14 7 5 2 28 15 +13 26 1–1 — 7–1 2–0 2–2 1–0 2–1 2–0
3 Cercle Brugge 14 7 2 5 24 21 +3 23 0–1 0–3 — 1–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 4–0
4 Roeselare 14 6 3 5 15 25 −10 21 0–4 3–1 2–1 — 2–0 1–0 0–0 1–0
5 Lierse 14 4 5 5 19 26 −7 17 2–2 2–1 3–2 2–2 — 2–1 2–2 1–1
6 Union SG 14 4 2 8 16 18 −2 14 0–3 0–0 1–2 4–0 3–2 — 3–0 1–2
7 Westerlo 14 2 6 6 16 22 −6 12 0–0 2–2 1–2 4–0 0–1 0–3 — 1–1
8 Tubize 14 2 4 8 10 20 −10 10 0–1 1–2 1–1 1–3 2–0 0–0 1–2 —
Source: Belgian First Division B (in French and Dutch)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Matches won; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away goals scored; 6) Away matches won; 7) Play-off.[14]

Closing tournament
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification CER LIE OHL USG B-W WES ROE TUB
1 Cercle Brugge 14 7 6 1 26 13 +13 27 Qualification to Promotion play-offs — 4–1 1–0 2–2 4–0 1–1 1–0 0–0
2 Lierse 14 7 1 6 16 21 −5 22 1–0 — 0–1 1–0 2–1 2–0 1–2 2–1
3 OH Leuven 14 5 6 3 15 12 +3 21 2–2 2–1 — 3–1 1–1 0–1 1–1 1–1
4 Union SG 14 4 6 4 16 15 +1 18 1–1 1–0 0–0 — 1–0 1–1 1–2 1–1
5 Beerschot Wilrijk 14 4 5 5 13 17 −4 17 2–3 1–1 1–2 2–1 — 0–0 1–0 1–0
6 Westerlo 14 3 6 5 15 13 +2 15 2–3 6–0 1–0 0–1 1–1 — 0–0 0–0
7 Roeselare 14 3 5 6 11 18 −7 14 0–3 1–2 1–1 1–4 0–0 2–1 — 1–2
8 Tubize 14 2 7 5 11 14 −3 13 1–1 1–2 0–1 1–1 1–2 [lower-alpha 1] 2–1 0–0 —
Source: Belgian First Division B (in French and Dutch)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Matches won; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away goals scored; 6) Away matches won; 7) Play-off.[14]
  1. The match between Tubize and Beerschot-Wilrijk of 10 December was cancelled as the pitch was not deemed suited for football following long periods of rain and some snow. The match was instead played on 10 January.[15]

Aggregate table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Cercle Brugge 28 14 8 6 50 34 +16 50 Qualification to Promotion play-offs
2 OH Leuven 28 12 11 5 43 27 +16 47 Qualification to Europa League play-offs[1]
3 Beerschot Wilrijk 28 12 10 6 42 27 +15 46 Qualification to Promotion play-offs
4 Lierse 28 11 6 11 35 47 −12 39 Qualification to Europa League play-offs[1]
5 Roeselare 28 9 8 11 26 43 −17 35 Qualification to Relegation play-offs[2]
6 Union SG 28 8 8 12 32 33 −1 32
7 Westerlo 28 5 12 11 31 35 −4 27
8 Tubize 28 4 11 13 21 34 −13 23
Source: Belgian First Division B (in French and Dutch)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Matches won; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away goals scored; 6) Away matches won; 7) Play-off.[14]
Notes
  1. ^
    The team that promotes to the 2018–19 Belgian First Division A, either by winning the promotion playoff or by winning both the opening and the closing tournament, will not take part in the Europa League play-offs. The next team in the league will take its spot instead.
  2. ^
    In case the team that wins the promotion playoff finishes in the bottom four, the 4th placed team will play the relegation playoff instead.

Promotion play-offs

The winners of the opening tournament and the closing tournament met in a two-legged match to determine the division champion, who promoted to the 2018–19 Belgian First Division A. The team finishing highest in the aggregate table was allowed to play the second leg at home. In case one team had won both the opening and the closing tournament, these matches would not have been played and that team would have been promoted automatically.

On 5 November 2017, Beerschot Wilrijk won the opening tournament and was therefore assured of playing at least the promotion play-offs. The closing tournament was won by Cercle Brugge on 17 February 2018, who played Beerschot Wilrijk for the title and promotion.

The first leg was a closed match with few chances, until Cercle Brugge goalkeeper Paul Nardi made an error in controlling the ball, allowing Euloge Placca Fessou one of the easiest goals of his career. Shortly after, Beerschot Wilrijk saw midfielder Alexander Maes sent off following a harsh tackle, resulting them in controlling the game without creating more chances. In the return match, Cercle Brugge scored twice early and looked on its way to promotion, only for Beerschot Wilrijk to come back to 2–1 just minutes before the end and gaining the advantage on away goals. In a dramatic finish, Cercle Brugge was awarded a last minute penalty kick, converted by Irvin Cardona to bring them back to the highest division where they last played during the 2014–15 season.

Beerschot Wilrijk1–0Cercle Brugge
Placca Fessou  53'
Maes  62'		 Report
Attendance: 11,750
Cercle Brugge3–1Beerschot Wilrijk
Mercier  31'
Crysan  36'
Cardona  90' (pen.)		 Report Van Hyfte  84'

Cercle Brugge won 3–2 on aggregate.

Relegation play-offs

The four bottom teams in the aggregate table will take part in the relegation play-offs in which they keep half of the points they collected during the overall regular season (rounded up). As a result, the teams started with the following points before the playoff: Roeselare 18 points, Union SG 16, Westerlo 14 and Tubize 12 points. The points of Roeselare, Westerlo and Tubize were rounded up, therefore in case of any ties on points at the end of the playoffs, their half point would be deducted. The team finishing in last position will relegate to the 2018–19 Belgian First Amateur Division.

Following a 0-1 loss at home to Union SG on 14 April 2018, Tubize was mathematically relegated as the deficit to Union SG became six points with only two matches to go, while Union SG would always be ranked above Tubize in case of ties as the points of Tubize were rounded up prior to the relegation play-offs. Tubize was however spared of relegation from the Belgian First Division B as Lierse did not obtain a Belgian professional football license after going bankrupt.[16]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts ROE WES USG TUB
1 Roeselare 6 3 3 0 5 1 +4 30 — 0–0 1–0 0–0
2 Westerlo 6 3 3 0 6 1 +5 26 0–0 — 1–0 1–1
3 Union SG 6 1 1 4 2 6 −4 20 0–1 0–2 — 1–1
4 Tubize[lower-alpha 1] 6 0 3 3 3 8 −5 15 1–3 0–2 0–1 —
Source: Belgian First Division B (in French and Dutch)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points without (possible) half points added due to rounding; 3) Matches won; 4) Goal difference; 5) Goals scored; 6) Away goals scored; 7) Away matches won; 8) Play-off.[17]
Notes:
  1. Tubize would have been relegated after finishing last, however following the bankruptcy of Lierse, they remained in the First Division B.

Season statistics

Top scorers
As of 16 February 2018.[18]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Yannick Aguemon OH Leuven 10
Esteban Casagolda OH Leuven
Florent Stevance Tubize
4 Xavier Mercier Cercle Brugge 9
Hernán Losada Beerschot Wilrijk
Ivan Yagan Lierse
7 Euloge Placca Fessou Beerschot Wilrijk 8
8 Jens Naessens Westerlo 7
Dylan De Belder Cercle Brugge
10 Irvin Cardona Cercle Brugge 6
Mohamed Messoudi Beerschot Wilrijk
Nikola Storm OH Leuven
Guévin Tormin Cercle Brugge
Julien Vercauteren Union SG
5 goals (5 players)
4 goals (5 players)
3 goals (14 players)
2 goals (19 players)
1 goal (40 players)
1 own goal (7 players)

Number of teams by provinces
Number of teams Province or region Team(s)
3  AntwerpBeerschot Wilrijk, Lierse and Westerlo
2  West FlandersCercle Brugge and Roeselare
1  BrusselsUnion SG
 Flemish BrabantOH Leuven
 Walloon BrabantTubize

Notes
  1. As part of the reform, the rules for obtaining a licence were changed, with clubs now required to have a stadium with a capacity of at least 8,000. As the Stade Joseph Marien has only a capacity of six thousand, Union will play one season in the King Baudouin Stadium while their home stadium is being expanded. This ruling was extended with one additional season as the Stade Joseph Marien was not fully refurbished yet at the start of the 2017–18 season and is now expected to be finalised by June 2018.

References
  1. "Mathijssen verlaat Westerlo dan toch, T2 Pelic wordt T1" [Mathijssen does leave Westerlo after all, assistant Pelić becomes head coach] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2017-06-21.
  2. "Roeselare slachtoffert coach Arnauld Mercier na 5 speeldagen" [Roeselare sacrifices coach Arnauld Mercier after 5 matchdays] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2017-09-12.
  3. "Van Wijk begint aan derde ambtstermijn bij Roeselare" [Van Wijk starts third term at Roeselare] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2017-09-28.
  4. "Nigel Pearson nieuwe coach van OH Leuven" [Nigel Pearson new coach of OH Leuven] (in Dutch). ohl.be. 2017-09-22. Archived from the original on 2017-09-23. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  5. "Lierse en coach Vanderbiest zijn uit elkaar" [Lierse and coach Vanderbiest have split up] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2017-10-06.
  6. "Lierse geeft 24-jarige William Still kans als hoofdcoach" [Lierse gives 24-year old William Still a chance as head coach] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2017-10-11.
  7. "José Riga krijgt de bons bij Cercle Brugge" [José Riga gets sacked at Cercle Brugge] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2017-10-16.
  8. "Vercauteren moet Cercle Brugge weer naar hoogste klasse loodsen" [Vercauteren to guide Cercle Brugge back to the highest division] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2017-10-16.
  9. "Nieuwe coach moet Tubeke helpen in degradatiestrijd" [New manager to help Tubeke in relegation battle] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2017-11-13.
  10. "Colpaert neemt over van Still bij Lierse: "Maar er verandert niet veel"" [Colpaert takes over form Still at Lierse: "But not much will change"] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2017-10-06.
  11. "Bob Peeters keert na een jaar weer terug naar Westerlo" [Bob Peeters returns to Westerlo after one year] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2017-10-06.
  12. "Samenwerking met Dennis van Wijk stopgezet" [Cooperation with Dennis van Wijk cancelled] (in Dutch). ksvroeselare.be. 2018-01-19.
  13. "Ex-Eupen-coach Condom gaat bij Roeselare aan de slag" [Ex-Eupen-coach Condom starts working at Roeselare] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2018-01-25.
  14. "General terms Belgian competition" (PDF). kbvb.be. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  15. "Tubize - Beerschot Wilrijk afgelast; ondanks beperkte sneeuwlaag in het Stade Leburton" [Tubize - Beerschot Wilrijk cancelled; in spite of only moderate snow at Stade Leburton] (in Dutch). proximus11.be. 10 December 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  16. "Lierse is failliet, stamnummer 30 verdwijnt: "Game over"" [Lierse bankrupt, matricule 30 disappears: "Game over"]. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  17. "Pro League 2017/2018 - Season rules". Scoresway. Archived from the original on 26 February 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  18. "Spelersstatistieken". Retrieved 4 October 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.