Antwerp, Royal Union Saint-Gilloise and Genk play for the Jupiler Pro League title this Sunday on a day not for the faint of heart
Genk will face Antwerp on the final day while Union Saint-Gilloise face Bruges, who have nothing at stake
Europe has already decided on its most important kings. Barça, Manchester City, Napoli, Bayern, PSG… All of them have already been crowned in great ceremonies, with parades and celebrations in grand style. However, the Old Continent still has a few crowns to award. The one in Belgium, for example, which still has no owner. Three clubs fighting, one day, two key matches and calculators and speculations that aim to make smoke.
Not even the Jupiler Pro League, in its wildest dreams, would have dreamed of such an ending, with Antwerp, Royal Union Saint-Gilloise and Genk fighting for the throne after a Scudetto play-off that failed to satisfy the champion until the last minute day. The regular stage had already left a tremendous tie in the table, but no one expected the calculations to be repeated in the playoffs and the month of June will be reached without knowing who will occupy the throne of Belgium this season.
But so it was. And now we just have to wait to find out what will happen next Sunday from 18:30, when both matches will be played. Those of Mark Van Bommel, a former Barça player, depend on themselves leading the standings right now with 46 points and will face Genk, who have 45 points and are third in the fight. If they win, Antwerp will be the new Belgian champion, which hasn’t happened since 1957.
Third in contention, Union Saint-Gilloise, will face Bruges, who have absolutely nothing on the line and have already secured their place for next Conference League. Karel Geraerts’ men would need to win the following day and hope for a draw in the main course of the day, that Genk-Antwerp. If the carambola happened, the Royal Union would once again be champions in Belgium after more than 80 years of absence from the throne. Tremendous.Finishing first, second or third is no less of a problem in this title playoff. The champion and the runner-up will go to the Champions League, while the third will be in the Europa League. A more than noticeable difference. From one point the thing will go. We will see who is the new king in Belgium.