Peter VandenPept: Big hammer blow to Ghent, Houdini’s representation of Club Bruges | Jupiler Pro League

One big surprise: not KAA Gent, but Club Brugge playing the Playoffs.

All the analysts, myself at the front, stuck to an official statement: “No, it’s not possible that KAA Gent can’t finish at home against KV Oostende.” And now we are in our shirt again.

due to an unexplained condition. Ghent started the game well, but a kind of paralysis soon followed. The team started to have doubts and the players looked tired.

Hein Vanhaezebrouck came up with an explanation. He had to be content with a small team, Ghent played 14 matches in Europe and the team was groaning with injuries.

Precious excuses for fifth place, but no excuse for a home game against KV Oostende, who have swallowed 12 goals in their last two matches, so to speak. Against Ostend, which collapsed, against Ostend, where an uprising broke out against the coach.

In football, not everything can be explained. Uncertainty crept into the Ghent team, and the public began to turn against the team. which does not help.

Then you are left with a huge hangover. A hangover similar to losing in the cup final to second division team Mechelen a few years earlier.

There is now a chance that you will not play European football next season. Ghent had just put itself on the map. The club was exciting again, and the team played some great football in Europe.

In just a few days, KAA Gent is completely naked. The fifth position is a huge blow with a club hammer. And you can be sure that not many fans will show up for the second football final in Ghent.

Club Brugge gave Open a beating. 7-0 and after the match it was celebrated as if the Blue and Black had become champions again.

You can mean it. The biggest, richest and best team finished fourth, 16 points behind Genk and Union. And they are happy about that.

Lots of cynicism, because you can also understand the joy in Bruges. All seemed lost, and the club seemed to be grabbing the side of European football for the first time in living memory. Heading the club to disgrace.

Club Brugge Houdini escaped – and with an excellent performance – from it.

This fourth position will give the club an incredible amount of oxygen. Just watch out for Club Brugge in the first play-off.

Club Brugge has received a boost. With players that grow to a better level. For once I play the playoffs without pressure.

With a difference of 8 points over Genk and Union and 6.5 points over Antwerp, a new title would be very unlikely, but Club Brugge could still play good matches.

Club Brugge comes into action in the first match against KRC Genk, Union and Antwerp. They’re playing for the title, and I don’t see any favorites at the moment.

Racing Genk plays good football, but has only won 3 times in 10 matches in recent weeks. After the winter break, it lost, among other things, to its direct competitors, albeit undeservedly.

Genk should always run things the same way: in possession of the ball, with beautiful, well-groomed football. While Union and Antwerp can play football in a variety of ways.

Antwerp has fully stepped into the shadows, following in the footsteps of Genk and Union. He hardly dropped any points and did not concede any goals. You have to defend well to have a chance of success.

The outcome of the playoffs is not expected. I think we will have changing leaders from week to week.

It will be exciting till the end. This time with Club Brugge in the role of executioner.

Finally, the horror scenario played out in Anderlecht: Europeans exit, lose to KV Mechelen, riots in the stadium.

Whereas a week and a half ago that same stadium was still on fire after Europe’s victory over Arizona. As if they won the European Cup.

I felt optimistic. There was hope that Anderlecht could still make something of this damned season.

Suddenly they are standing there empty handed. The frustration and disappointment are enormous.

No matter how you twist or rotate it. Anderlecht had the worst result since 1937, when people still drove by horse and buggy.

With the arrival of manager Friedberg and coach Rimmer, you had the impression that Anderlecht were making moves. Fans also believed in the duo.

But Anderlecht is back to square one, after a very bad season for the club.

Faith in steady growth has also taken another blow. Anderlecht is almost starting from scratch again.

And the Friedberg-Riemer duo will be in the wind. They will have to register in the next transfer window.