Final day – the title and 15 million up for grabs

Anderlecht play Zulte Waregem this afternoon and either side can take the Jupiler Pro League title. Anderlecht start favourites as they will be champions if they avoid defeat. Zulte Waregem need to win and they will take heart from that fact that they’ve already beaten Anderlecht twice this season.

Thorgan Hazard, on loan at Zulte Waregem from Chelsea, has been grabbing the headlines in Belgium. With Franck Berrier being out of favour, Hazard has become the main creative force of the team in the last few games. The match has been billed as a 15 million euro match as that’s the estimated amount that the champions will take from direct entry into the Champions League.

Anderlecht have found some form in their recent games as Matias Suarez has returned and scored three goals in two games. If Anderlecht do win and Club Brugge defeat Genk (already qualified for the Europa League), then Zulte will drop to third – and out of the Champions League completely. It could be close at the Constant Vanden stock stadium today as the Essevee never give up and Francky Dury’s team will go into the game full of belief. The playoffs have been heavily criticised but everyone agrees that the format can build up to an exciting climax.

Current standings
It’s the closest finish of all the leagues in Europe: Anderlecht 48, Zulte Waregem 46, Club Brugge 43, Racing Genk 40, Standard 39, Lokeren 31.

Next games
May 19: Club Brugge-Genk; Anderlecht-Zulte Waregem; Standard-Lokeren.

More info
For more about how the playoffs actually operate, here’s a piece from a couple of years ago.