JPL Playoffs – just four games to go

By | February 16, 2018

With just four games remaining in the JPL classic league, the front-runners are all faltering. Leaders Club Brugge looked a class above the rest prior to the winter break but they have only taken six points from their last five matches. Closest to them are Charleroi and Anderlecht and those two have identical form to Club Brugge.

Remarkably, none of those leading clubs have won any of their last three matches. The clubs with the best form are Gent, with coach Yves Vanderhaeghe proving his worth, and Racing Genk, where Philippe Clement is finding his feet.

Also worthy of mention are Kortrijk, now with Glen De Boeck at the helm and they’ve not conceded a goal in their last four games – three wins and a draw.

This weekend

Going into this weekend, with Club Brugge, Charleroi, Anderlecht and Gent looking sure of a place in the playoffs, they would seem to be joined by two from a group of three – Genk, Kortrijk and Standard. Royal Antwerp were looking good but have have slipped up badly with no win in their last five games.

On Saturday, Kortrijk travel to Lokeren and will start firm favourites. Club Brugge face Genk in what should be the game of the weekend with Clement returning to the club that felt he was not good enough to replace Michel Preud’homme.

Sunday sees Gent facing struggling KV Mechelen while the main match is the Walloon derby – Charleroi against Standard. Les Rouches can’t stop scoring goals and it should be a close and feisty affair.

The games kick-off tonight with Anderlecht, no wins in four, go to play on Sint Truiden’s plastic pitch. The home side are another club who have slipped up in recent weeks and this one could also be close. There are lots of discussions about the inner turmoil at the (soon to be renamed?) Constant Vanden Stock Stadium but the truth is hard to tell.

Points to-date

Club Brugge 59, Charleroi 48, Anderlecht 46, Gent 43, Genk 37, Antwerp 37, Kortrijk 36, Standard Liege 36.

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