2020–21 Belgian First Division A
The 2020–21 Belgian First Division A is the 118th season of top-tier football in Belgium. As part of a proposal by the Jupiler Pro League's board of directors accepted by the General Assembly on 15 May 2020, the 2020–21 season will involve shortened playoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Only the top four teams will play off for the title, while teams five through eight will playoff for the remaining ticket into Europe.[1] The league fixtures were announced on 8 July 2020.[2]
Season | 2020–21 |
---|---|
Dates | 8 August 2020 – 30 May 2021 |
Matches played | 225 |
Goals scored | 660 (2.93 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Paul Onuachu (22 goals) |
Biggest home win | Gent 5–1 Beerschot (4 October 2020) Genk 4–0 Eupen (30 October 2020) |
Biggest away win | Zulte Waregem 0–6 Club Brugge (20 September 2020) |
Highest scoring | Kortrijk 5–5 Beerschot (7 November 2020) |
Longest winning run | 7 matches Club Brugge Genk |
Longest unbeaten run | 10 matches Genk |
Longest winless run | 10 matches Cercle Brugge Mouscron Waasland-Beveren |
Longest losing run | 7 matches Cercle Brugge |
← 2019–20 2021–22 → |
Team changes
Waasland-Beveren were originally relegated to the Belgian First Division B, as they were the bottom-placed team when the 2019–20 Belgian First Division A stopped prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, following legal proceedings, they remained in the top-flight, and instead the league was expanded to 18 teams, with both OH Leuven and Beerschot being promoted (where instead normally only one of them would have gained promotion). Beerschot will make their debut for the first time in the top tier of Belgian football.
Format change
With now 18 instead of 16 teams, the format has changed somewhat. While the season still starts with an initial round-robin phase in which all teams play each other twice, the end of season play-offs have been shortened temporarily and for the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons only. The title playoffs will now only be played by the top four teams (instead of six) and the Europa League play-offs will now be played by the teams finishing fifth through eight (instead of all teams finishing below 6th). As a result, for all teams finishing below 9th the season will be over upon completion of the round-robin phase, with the team in last position being relegated. One exception is the team finishing in 17th position, as this team will play a promotion-relegation play off against the 2nd-place finisher in the 2020–21 Belgian First Division B, with the winner playing in the 2021–22 Belgian First Division A.
Teams
Stadiums and locations




Matricule | Club | Location | Venue | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|---|
35 | Anderlecht | Anderlecht | Lotto Park | 21,500 |
1 | Antwerp | Antwerp | Bosuilstadion | 12,975 |
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 |
216 | Mouscron | Mouscron | Stade Le Canonnier | 10,571 |
31 | Oostende | Ostend | Versluys Arena | 8,432 |
18 | Oud-Heverlee Leuven | Leuven | Den Dreef | 10,000 |
373 | Sint-Truiden | Sint-Truiden | Stayen | 14,600 |
16 | Standard Liège | Liège | Stade Maurice Dufrasne | 30,023 |
4068 | Waasland-Beveren | Beveren | Freethiel Stadion | 8,190 |
5381 | Zulte Waregem | Waregem | Regenboogstadion | 12,500 |
Personnel and kits
Club | Manager | Kit Manufacturer | Sponsors |
---|---|---|---|
Anderlecht | ![]() |
Joma | DVV Insurance (home) Candriam (away) |
Antwerp | ![]() |
Jako | Ghelamco |
Beerschot | ![]() |
XIII[n 4] | Yelo |
Cercle Brugge | ![]() |
Kappa | Napoleon Games |
Charleroi | ![]() |
Kappa | Lotto |
Club Brugge | ![]() |
Macron | Unibet |
Eupen | ![]() |
Adidas | Qatar Airways |
Excel Mouscron | ![]() |
Uhlsport | Star Casino |
Genk | ![]() |
Nike | Beobank |
Gent | ![]() |
Craft | VDK Bank |
Kortrijk | ![]() |
Jako | AGO Jobs & HR |
Mechelen | ![]() |
Jartazi | Telenet |
OH Leuven | ![]() |
Adidas | King Power |
Oostende | ![]() |
Kipsta | Star Casino |
Sint-Truiden | ![]() |
Macron | DMM.com |
Standard Liège | ![]() |
New Balance | VOO |
Waasland-Beveren | ![]() |
Uhlsport | Star Casino |
Zulte-Waregem | ![]() |
Patrick | Napoleon Games |
Managerial changes
Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position | Replaced by | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cercle Brugge | ![]() |
End of contract[3] | End of 2019–20 season | Pre-season | ![]() |
3 July 2020[4] |
Antwerp | ![]() |
End of contract[5] | ![]() |
20 May 2020[6] | ||
Sint-Truiden | ![]() |
Mutual consent[7] | ![]() |
2 June 2020[8] | ||
Waasland-Beveren | ![]() |
Caretaker replaced | ![]() |
4 June 2020 [9] | ||
Oostende | ![]() |
Replaced[10] | ![]() |
7 June 2020[10] | ||
Standard Liège | ![]() |
Resigned[11] | ![]() |
10 June 2020[12] | ||
Excel Mouscron | ![]() |
Mutual consent[13] | ![]() |
18 July 2020[14] | ||
Anderlecht | ![]() |
Kompany became sole manager[15] | 17 August 2020 | 3rd | ![]() |
17 August 2020[15] |
Gent | ![]() |
Sacked[16] | 20 August 2020 | 16th | ![]() |
20 August 2020[16] |
Gent | ![]() |
Sacked[17] | 14 September 2020 | 16th | ![]() |
14 September 2020 |
Genk | ![]() |
Sacked[18] | 15 September 2020 | 14th | ![]() |
15 September 2020 |
Genk | ![]() |
Caretaker replaced[19] | 24 September 2020 | 14th | ![]() |
24 September 2020 |
Excel Mouscron | ![]() |
Sacked[20] | 19 October 2020 | 18th | ![]() |
20 October 2020[21] |
Genk | ![]() |
Became manager at ![]() |
2 November 2020 | 7th | ![]() |
8 November 2020 [n 12] |
Sint-Truiden | ![]() |
Sacked[24] | 1 December 2020 | 16th | ![]() |
1 December 2020 |
Gent | ![]() |
Sacked[25] | 3 December 2020 | 12th | ![]() |
4 December 2020 |
Sint-Truiden | ![]() |
Caretaker replaced[27] | 7 December 2020 | 17th | ![]() |
7 December 2020 |
Standard Liège | ![]() |
Sacked[28] | 26 December 2020 | 11th | ![]() |
30 December 2020 |
Antwerp | ![]() |
Became manager at ![]() |
29 December 2020 | 5th | ![]() |
4 January 2021 |
Beerschot | ![]() |
Became manager at ![]() |
17 January 2021 | 10th | ![]() |
19 January 2021 |
Kortrijk | ![]() |
Sacked[34] | 31 January 2021 | 15th | ![]() |
31 January 2021 |
Cercle Brugge | ![]() |
Sacked[35] | 1 February 2021 | 17th | ![]() |
3 February 2021 |
Regular season
League table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Club Brugge | 26 | 19 | 3 | 4 | 55 | 18 | +37 | 60 | Qualification for the Europa Conference League and Play-offs I[lower-alpha 1] |
2 | Antwerp | 26 | 14 | 4 | 8 | 43 | 35 | +8 | 46 | Qualification for the Play-offs I |
3 | Genk | 26 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 50 | 35 | +15 | 43 | |
4 | Anderlecht | 26 | 10 | 11 | 5 | 36 | 27 | +9 | 41 | |
5 | Oostende | 26 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 39 | 34 | +5 | 39 | Qualification for the Play-offs II |
6 | Standard Liège | 26 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 37 | 30 | +7 | 39 | |
7 | Charleroi | 26 | 11 | 5 | 10 | 39 | 35 | +4 | 38 | |
8 | Beerschot | 26 | 11 | 4 | 11 | 47 | 50 | −3 | 37 | |
9 | OH Leuven | 26 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 41 | 42 | −1 | 37 | |
10 | Mechelen | 26 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 39 | 42 | −3 | 36 | |
11 | Zulte Waregem | 26 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 39 | 46 | −7 | 34 | |
12 | Gent | 26 | 9 | 6 | 11 | 36 | 33 | +3 | 33 | |
13 | Kortrijk | 26 | 9 | 6 | 11 | 32 | 37 | −5 | 33 | |
14 | Eupen | 26 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 32 | 42 | −10 | 32 | |
15 | Sint-Truiden | 26 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 34 | 40 | −6 | 30 | |
16 | Excel Mouscron | 26 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 23 | 37 | −14 | 26 | |
17 | Cercle Brugge | 26 | 7 | 1 | 18 | 30 | 48 | −18 | 22 | Qualification for the Relegation play-off |
18 | Waasland-Beveren | 26 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 32 | 56 | −24 | 21 | Relegation to First Division B |
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.[37]
Notes:
- The regular season winners will qualify for the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League if they do not qualify for the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League in the playoffs.
Results
Play-offs
League table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation | 1ST | 2ND | 3RD | 4TH | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1st place of the regular season | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage | — | ||||
2 | 2nd place of the regular season | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round | — | ||||
3 | 3rd place of the regular season | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Qualification for the Europa Conference League third qualifying round | — | ||||
4 | 4th place of the regular season | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Qualification to European competition play-offs[lower-alpha 1] | — |
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.[38]
Notes:
- Winner of play-off will qualify to Europa Conference League second qualifying round.
League table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation | 5TH | 6TH | 7TH | 8TH | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 5th place of the regular season | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Qualification to European competition play-offs[lower-alpha 1] | — | ||||
2 | 6th place of the regular season | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | |||||
3 | 7th place of the regular season | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | |||||
4 | 8th place of the regular season | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
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.[39]
Notes:
- Winner of play-off will qualify to Europa Conference League second qualifying round.
European competition play-offs
The fourth-placed team of the play-offs I and the first-placed team of the play-offs II played two matches by home-and-away matches to determine the Europa League play-off winner. The winner will qualify for the second qualifying round of the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League.
Season statistics
Top scorers
Top assists
Notes
References
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